“…Arsenate adsorbs onto solid phase humic acids more extensively than arsenite, with amine (NH 2 ) groups suspected as the primary functional group responsible for arsenic retention (Thanabalsingam and Pickering, 1986a). Arsenic adsorption by humic substances is also enhanced by cation addition, particularly Fe, Al and Mn, whereby the cations act as bridging complexes for arsenate on humic acids (Lin et al, 2004). Nevertheless, organic matter tends to be poorly correlated with total As in comparison to Fe, Al, or P (Chen et al, 2002), suggesting that its contribution to arsenic retention in soils and sediments is limited.…”