Natural Background Methane In Ohio Aquifers: Occurrence, Isotopic Characteristics, And Relation To Arsenic Concentrations Active

Arsenic is odorless and tasteless and can enter drinking-water supplies from natural deposits in rock and soil. In some parts of Ohio, arsenic concentrations in groundwater have exceeded the arsenic drinking-water standard of 10 parts per billion that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has set to protect consumers from the effects of long-term, chronic exposure to arsenic(U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2012).The USGS is investigating arsenic concentrations in water from domestic wells in southwestern and central Ohio as part of a broader effort to understand which areas in Ohio are most vulnerable to contamination from naturally occurring arsenic, as well as methane (a colorless, tasteless, and odorless gas that can be flammable and can displace oxygen in a confined space, causing asphyxiation). The USGS has also investigated the effectiveness of arsenic treatment methods in domestic wells.