Have you ever been in touch with Arsenic in your life well i used it several times during my education we all know arsenic is a useful chemical compound but there are many things or stories that we don't know about arsenic . thats what i am going to tell you
In 2007 a study found that over 137 million people in more than 70 countries are affected by arsenic poisoning from drinking water.
WHAT IS ARSENIC POISONING
Arsenic poisoning is a medical condition caused by elevated levels of arsenic in the body. The dominant basis of arsenic poisoning is from ground water that naturally contains high concentrations of arsenic.
SIGN AND SYMPTOMS OF ARSENIC POISONING
- headaches, confusion, severe diarrhea, and drowsiness
- convulsions and changes in fingernail pigmentation called leukonychia striata
- vomiting, blood in the urine, cramping muscles, hair loss, stomach pain, and more convulsions.
there are many mode of exposure of arsenic to human body but i am discussing few of them
Drinking water
Chronic arsenic poisoning results from drinking contaminated well water over a long period of time. Many aquifers contain high concentration of arsenic salts. The World Health Organization recommends a limit of 0.01 mg/L (10ppb) of arsenic in drinking water.
One of the worst incidents of arsenic poisoning via well water occurred in Bangladesh, which the World Health Organization called the "largest mass poisoning of a population in history
Occupational exposure
The toxicity of arsenic to insects, bacteria and fungi led to its use as a wood preservative.Because of its high toxicity, arsenic is little used in the Western world, although in Asia is still a popular pesticide. Arsenic is mainly encountered occupationally in the smelting of zinc and copper ores
Food
It has been found that rice is particularly susceptible to accumulation of arsenic from soil.Rice grown in US has an average 260 ppb of arsenic according to a study, but U.S. arsenic intake remains far below WHO recommended limits. China has set a standard for arsenic limits in food (150 ppb), as levels in rice exceed those in water.
Thousands are Being Slowly Poisoned in India and Bangladesh, thousands of human beings are unknowingly being slowly poisoned due to arsenic contaminated drinking water. The tube wells, which once saved their lives by preventing gastrointestinal diseases, are now killing them.
You May Be Consuming Arsenic Daily
Sealing off tubewells and using water purifiers may not be enough to prevent arsenic poisoning. The harmful chemical was still affecting thousands through contaminated poultry products and meat, according to a study by researchers at the West Bengal University of Fishery and Animal Sciences (WBUFAS). Chicken, mutton and egg samples collected from affected areas on the northern fringes of the city were found to contain more than five times the permissible limit of arsenic.
According to the study, egg, goat meat, eggs and fish produced in the poultry and other farms of eight arsenic-prone villages in the Deganga block of North 24-Parganas had much higher levels of arsenic than the human system could tolerate."Kolkata gets 60% of its chicken and egg supply from the affected areas of North 24-Parganas.
Solution to arsenic poisoning in India found
Scientists at the Queens University Belfast have created a new low-cost technology to provide arsenic-free water to millions of people in South Asia who are exposed to high levels of poison in groundwater. Queen's researchers have also developed a trial plant in Kasimpore, near Kolkata, which offers chemical-free groundwater treatment technology to rural communities for all their drinking and farming needs.The technology is based on recharging a part of the groundwater, after aeration, into a subterranean aquifer (permeable rock) able to hold water. Increased levels of oxygen in the groundwater slow down the arsenic release from the soil.
Mostly major no of south asian countries are affected with arsenic poisoning but there are few western countries also in the list
Bangladesh and West Bengal, India
Arsenic contamination of the groundwater in Bangladesh is a serious problem. Prior to the 1970s, Bangladesh had one of the highest infant mortality rates in the world. Ineffective water purification and sewage systems as well as periodic monsoons and flooding exacerbated these problems. As a solution, UNICEF and the World Bank advocated the use of wells to tap into deeper groundwater. Millions of wells were constructed as a result. Because of this action, infant mortality and diarrheal illness were reduced by fifty percent. However, with over 8 million wells constructed, approximately one in five of these wells is now contaminated with arsenic above the government's drinking water standard.
The central portion of Argentina is affected by arsenic-contaminated groundwater. Specifically, the La Pampa produces water containing 4-5300 microgram As per litre
United States
Fallon, Nevada has long been known to have groundwater with relatively high arsenic concentrations (in excess of 0.08 mg/L). Even some surface waters, such as the Verde River in Arizona, sometimes exceed 0.01 mg/L arsenic, especially during low-flow periods when the river flow is dominated by groundwater discharge.
Nepal
Nepal is subject to a serious problem with arsenic contamination. The problem is most severe in the Terai region, the worst being near Nawalparasi District, where 26 percent of shallow wells failed to meet WHO standard of 10 ppb. A study by Japan International Cooperation Agency and the Environment in the Kathmandu Valley showed that 72% of deep wells failed to meet the WHO standard, and 12% failed to meet the Nepali standard of 50 ppb
may be this post of mine can help the common man to be aware of arsenic poisoning ...........plz must comment weather you liked it or not and for more post like this plz follow the Blog
Fallon, Nevada has long been known to have groundwater with relatively high arsenic concentrations (in excess of 0.08 mg/L). Even some surface waters, such as the Verde River in Arizona, sometimes exceed 0.01 mg/L arsenic, especially during low-flow periods when the river flow is dominated by groundwater discharge.
Nepal
Nepal is subject to a serious problem with arsenic contamination. The problem is most severe in the Terai region, the worst being near Nawalparasi District, where 26 percent of shallow wells failed to meet WHO standard of 10 ppb. A study by Japan International Cooperation Agency and the Environment in the Kathmandu Valley showed that 72% of deep wells failed to meet the WHO standard, and 12% failed to meet the Nepali standard of 50 ppb
may be this post of mine can help the common man to be aware of arsenic poisoning ...........plz must comment weather you liked it or not and for more post like this plz follow the Blog
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