Arsenic

Arsenic (As) — 10-Year Trends

As of 2026-09-25 · the last 10 years

Research intensity sits at about 95% of the element's all-time peak, a peak that occurred in 2024 within this window.

Research intensity ran from about 85% of the element's own all-time peak in 2016 to about 95% in 2026 — a rise to a mid-window peak followed by a fall back, and the all-time peak (2024) falls inside this window. Over the same span its share of research attention across all elements held steady. Among the 118 elements, arsenic has a larger-than-average research literature.

The number of papers involving the element rose from about 25,479 in 2016 to about 44,730 in 2025 (1.76x). That is slower than the literature as a whole grew over the same years, so the element lost ground in the wider body of research even as its own count rose.

The largest research community is Arsenic Contamination and Health Risks in Groundwater, which accounts for about 24% of the element's recent research. These papers focus on inorganic arsenic in drinking water, assessing human exposure and associated health risks from contaminated groundwater sources. Arsenic is one strand of a broader community, with about 20% of its papers involving the element. This community has held a steady share over the last decade. A key anchor is a 2021 paper on the toxic mechanisms of five heavy metals, cited over 3,100 times, alongside a 2024 review on heavy metal toxicity and human health effects, cited over 950 times.

A second major area is Arsenic Hyperaccumulation and Speciation in Rice Soils, representing about 22% of recent research. This work examines arsenic uptake in paddy fields, speciation in soil, and the role of Pteris vittata in phytoremediation. Arsenic is one strand of a broader community, with about 12% of its papers involving the element. This community has also maintained a steady share. A notable 2025 study in Science on global soil pollution by toxic metals, cited over 840 times, highlights the agricultural and health implications of this contamination.

The third material community is Arsenic Removal from Drinking Water via Adsorption, holding about 8% of the element's recent research. These papers focus on adsorbing arsenic from contaminated drinking water, specifically utilizing iron oxides to remove arsenate. Arsenic is a minor presence in a much larger community, with about 7% of its papers involving the element. This community has remained steady in its share. A 2017 review on the removal of heavy metals from industrial wastewaters, cited over 1,200 times, remains a foundational reference in this field.

Overall, the composition of arsenic research has remained stable, with no single community gaining or losing significant ground relative to the others. The remaining 46% of research is distributed across other communities, which have also held steady.

For a deeper look at the current standing of arsenic research, including the last 12 months of activity and an executive brief, see the element's current reports.