ABSTRACT
Objective:The arsenic content of drinking water in Aksu Prefecture of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (referred to as Xinjiang) was analyzed to understand the distribution of arsenic content and arsenic form of water in each county and city.Methods:In 2020, a total of 117 waterworks and villages (towns) under the jurisdiction of waterworks in 7 counties and 2 cities were randomly sampled, arsenic content in water was detected by atomic fluorescence spectrometry, and arsenic form in water was detected by liquid chromatography atomic fluorescence spectrometry.Results:A total of 626 water samples were collected, 614 water samples with water arsenic content < 0.01 mg/L, accounting for 98.08%; 12 water samples with water arsenic content 0.01 - < 0.05 mg/L, accounting for 1.92%; and there was no water sample with arsenic content ≥0.05 mg/L. The form of arsenic in excessive water sample in Aksu Prefecture was found to be five-valent arsenate. The arsenic content in the water of Awati County was the highest (0.004 6 mg/L).Conclusions:There are still some counties and cities with high arsenic content in water in Aksu Prefecture, and there are still hidden dangers of drinking-water brone endemic arsenism. Therefore, the water treatment technology should be improved or the water sources should be changed to prevent endemic arsenism.