Introduction
Arsenic is a naturally occurring element found in our Earth’s crust, but too much of the element in our water systems, aquifers and wells could cause serious health
problems over a long period of time. It has no distinctive taste or smell. You would assume that because arsenic is a naturally occurring element it wouldn’t
even be a concern. Arsenic causes a very serious environmental problem by contaminating our drinking water, and causing many diseases in people all over
the world.
Arsenic in groundwater is a major global issue with millions of people affected daily.Water is an everyday essential and yet millions of people are drinking
contaminated supplies unknowingly and as a consequence they are effectively destroying prospects of a healthy life. This major public disaster has been
described as "the largest mass poisoning of a population in history"
Very low levels arsenic is not a problem; in fact the body may even need a very small amount to function. However at higher levels, as low as three micrograms per
liter, it could have a very serious effect on people’s health. The main cause of arsenic in the drinking water is the weathering and decomposition of soil and minerals that occurs naturally. When the water comes in contact with these materials it can dissolve the arsenic. Industrial factories also introduce it by the combustion of fossil fuels, and they can also release hazardous waste into the ground that leads to contaminated groundwater.
There are many different types of health problems caused by drinking arsenic in water and those of which are mainly long term health effects. Some of which are a high chance in skin, bladder, kidney and lung cancer, hyperkeratosis, skin lesions and a few others. However, the symptoms seen immediately involve diarrhea,vomiting, poisonings and many more.
Arsenic is a potent carcinogen and it can cause deaths from a wide range of other serious diseases. Symptoms typically do not appear for 2-10 years from the start
of chronic exposure, and they may also appear long after exposure ceases. Although WHO note that there remains "considerable uncertainty and controversy
over both the mechanism of carcinogenicity and the shape of the dose-response curve at low intakes", there is increasing evidence of both cancer and
non-cancer effects at drinking water concentrations below 50 ?g/L that appearto follow a linear dose-response relationship.
Arsenic is a naturally occurring element found in our Earth’s crust, but too much of the element in our water systems, aquifers and wells could cause serious health
problems over a long period of time. It has no distinctive taste or smell. You would assume that because arsenic is a naturally occurring element it wouldn’t
even be a concern. Arsenic causes a very serious environmental problem by contaminating our drinking water, and causing many diseases in people all over
the world.
Arsenic in groundwater is a major global issue with millions of people affected daily.Water is an everyday essential and yet millions of people are drinking
contaminated supplies unknowingly and as a consequence they are effectively destroying prospects of a healthy life. This major public disaster has been
described as "the largest mass poisoning of a population in history"
Very low levels arsenic is not a problem; in fact the body may even need a very small amount to function. However at higher levels, as low as three micrograms per
liter, it could have a very serious effect on people’s health. The main cause of arsenic in the drinking water is the weathering and decomposition of soil and minerals that occurs naturally. When the water comes in contact with these materials it can dissolve the arsenic. Industrial factories also introduce it by the combustion of fossil fuels, and they can also release hazardous waste into the ground that leads to contaminated groundwater.
There are many different types of health problems caused by drinking arsenic in water and those of which are mainly long term health effects. Some of which are a high chance in skin, bladder, kidney and lung cancer, hyperkeratosis, skin lesions and a few others. However, the symptoms seen immediately involve diarrhea,vomiting, poisonings and many more.
Arsenic is a potent carcinogen and it can cause deaths from a wide range of other serious diseases. Symptoms typically do not appear for 2-10 years from the start
of chronic exposure, and they may also appear long after exposure ceases. Although WHO note that there remains "considerable uncertainty and controversy
over both the mechanism of carcinogenicity and the shape of the dose-response curve at low intakes", there is increasing evidence of both cancer and
non-cancer effects at drinking water concentrations below 50 ?g/L that appearto follow a linear dose-response relationship.