Arsenic Contamination in South Asia
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Questions and Answers

What is the primary health concern associated with arsenic levels in Bangladeshi wells?

  • Immediate poisoning
  • Acute toxicity
  • Chronic toxicity (correct)
  • Systemic toxicity

How long do people typically need to consume well water for symptoms of arsenic poisoning to appear?

  • 1 to 2 years
  • 10 to 15 years
  • 5 to 10 years (correct)
  • 3 to 4 years

What typically leads to the release of arsenic into groundwater in moist tropical environments?

  • Chemical fertilizers
  • Natural water filtration
  • Decaying organic matter (correct)
  • Industrial waste

What proportion of villagers examined in certain regions of Bangladesh exhibited skin lesions due to arsenic exposure?

<p>About one-quarter (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What characteristic of Bangladesh's environmental conditions contributes to the arsenic problem?

<p>Moist tropical environment (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What maximum permissible level of arsenic in drinking water does the World Health Organization (WHO) advise?

<p>50 μg/l (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In which country do more than 100 million people drink water containing arsenic levels above the WHO's recommended limit?

<p>Bangladesh (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary health concern related to arsenic levels in drinking water in certain Asian regions?

<p>Chronic toxicity (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

After how many years of consuming arsenic-contaminated water do people in Bangladesh begin to show symptoms?

<p>5 to 10 years (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the estimated arsenic level in some Asian wells that has been reported?

<p>3000 μg/l (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What biological factor contributes to the release of arsenic into groundwater in moist tropical environments?

<p>Decaying organic matter (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the statement that arsenic is 'becoming the key environmental health problem of the twenty-first century'?

<p>It highlights the inadequate awareness of chronic poisoning. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which symptom has been reported in nearly one-quarter of the villagers examined in regions served by arsenic-contaminated wells?

<p>Skin lesions (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Arsenic Contamination

  • Arsenic is a major environmental health concern, particularly in South Asia.
  • The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a maximum arsenic level of 10 μg/l in drinking water, with a permissible limit of 50 μg/l.
  • In Bangladesh, more than 100 million people drink water containing over 50 μg/l of arsenic.
  • Some wells in Asia have arsenic levels exceeding 3000 μg/l.
  • Arsenic contamination in groundwater is linked to the presence of organic matter in sediments, which releases arsenic during decomposition.
  • Arsenic levels in Bangladeshi wells are not acutely toxic, but prolonged exposure leads to chronic toxicity.
  • Symptoms of arsenic poisoning may take 5-10 years to appear after exposure.
  • Nearly a quarter of villagers examined in regions served by arsenic-contaminated wells in Bangladesh exhibited skin lesions.

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Description

Explore the critical issue of arsenic contamination in drinking water, particularly in South Asia, and its impact on public health. Learn about WHO recommendations and the alarming arsenic levels found in Bangladeshi wells. Understand the long-term effects and symptoms associated with chronic exposure to arsenic.

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