Arsenic has been in the news recently for a number of
reasons. For the
past two years, researchers have been describing an
arsenic-poisoning crisis in Bengal and Bangladesh that is
killing 25, 000 people a year. A report published in the July 1, 2001 issue of Environmental,
Science, & Technology indicates that drinking
water in parts of northern Viet Nam is contaminated with
arsenic levels 50 times higher than Vietnamese standards.
In the United States in July, 2001, the House argued about
whether the arsenic
standard should be lowered to 10 parts per billion, in
line with levels suggested by the World Health Organization,
or whether the standard should be maintained at the current 50
ppb. High levels
of arsenic have also been found in the West, Midwest, and
Northeast states. The vote ended up in favour of stricter
arsenic limits.
Current theories suggest that arsenic levels are high in Bengal,
Bangladesh, and Vietnam due to the use of tube wells. Tube wells are wells
designed to avoid polluted surface water by pulling water from
depths of 10 to 40 meters. However, these wells seemed to have
tapped into arsenic-contaminated underground aquifers. Arsenic
is a naturally occurring element found in rocks and soil. Over time, as the
rocks and soil break down, arsenic is released into the ground
water. Other
theories suggest that the arsenic is present due to
agricultural practices.
Exposure to
arsenic can cause skin disease, cardiovascular and
neurological problems and an increased risk of lung, bladder,
liver, and prostate cancer. In areas such as Bangladesh, the
people experience severe health problems attributed to
arsenic. So far,
the poisoning of thousands of people who drink what they call
“Devil’s Water”, has gone unnoticed by the West. Many scientists are
currently attempting to change this scenario and find
ways to treat the contaminated water.
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