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Questions and Answers
What is the primary health concern associated with arsenic levels in Bangladeshi wells?
How long do people typically need to consume well water for symptoms of arsenic poisoning to appear?
What typically leads to the release of arsenic into groundwater in moist tropical environments?
What proportion of villagers examined in certain regions of Bangladesh exhibited skin lesions due to arsenic exposure?
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What characteristic of Bangladesh's environmental conditions contributes to the arsenic problem?
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What maximum permissible level of arsenic in drinking water does the World Health Organization (WHO) advise?
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In which country do more than 100 million people drink water containing arsenic levels above the WHO's recommended limit?
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What is the primary health concern related to arsenic levels in drinking water in certain Asian regions?
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After how many years of consuming arsenic-contaminated water do people in Bangladesh begin to show symptoms?
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What is the estimated arsenic level in some Asian wells that has been reported?
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What biological factor contributes to the release of arsenic into groundwater in moist tropical environments?
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Which of the following best describes the statement that arsenic is 'becoming the key environmental health problem of the twenty-first century'?
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Which symptom has been reported in nearly one-quarter of the villagers examined in regions served by arsenic-contaminated wells?
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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.
