Global arsenic and antimony flow through coal and their cycling in groundwater environment

The widespread occurrence of potentially toxic elements such as arsenic (As) and antimony (Sb) in coal demands to follow their fate in the environment, due to their dissipation through coal mining, processing, and incineration. Pathways of As, mostly from drinking water and food grown using As-contaminated irrigation water are fairly well-known, while experience with Sb is rather scarce, despite the fact that most humans are exposed to low levels of Sb through food, water and air. For several decades, As-related problems with groundwater, soils, and wastes have been addressed in many countries all over the world, especially in South-east Asia. In the U.S. and the EU, Sb and its compounds are classified as highly toxic. Prior to trading coal, policy and decision makers should have accurate information on their trace metal-related quality. We tried to map flows of As and Sb through coal between seven regions of theworld for 2003, and to explain the behavior of these elements in groundwater and the effects onwater in global economic development.