The present work was conducted to find any relevance to the selenium (Se) content in soil, water and in an edible plant to the incidence of arsenicosis in some arsenic hotspots of the country where arsenicosis patients have been identified and where no arsenicosis patients have yet been reported. Soil, plant and water samples were collected from arsenic hot spots of five localit ies viz. Sonarg...

Many countries in the world, especially South Asia e.g., Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Vietnam, China and Myanmar are facing ground water arsenic contamination problems and it has been recognized as an emerging threat and challenge to public health (Ahmad et al, 2004). Pakistan, following the arsenic crisis in Bangladesh and in other neighboring countries, has recognized the need of assessing drink...

The potential effects of arsenic-contaminated drinking water on health are of concern, but our understanding of the risk factors of arsenicosis remains limited. This study assessed the prevalence of and socio-economic differentials in arsenic-associated skin lesions in a rural community in Bangladesh. Data were collected from a village where the Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee has operat...

This cross-sectional study was carried out in some selected arsenic contaminated rural areas of Bangladesh to determine any clinical changes in oral cavity, among the arsenic exposed population through drinking water. Total 600 respondents (200 arsenicosis patients, 200 non-patients but having the history of taking arsenic contaminated water and another 200 arsenic non-exposed). 75.5% of arseni...

The role of nutritional factors in arsenic metabolism and toxicity is not clear. Provision of certain low protein diets resulted in decreased excretion of DMA and increased tissue retention of arsenic in experimental studies. This paper reports a prevalence comparison study conducted in Bangladesh to assess the nutritional status among the chronic arsenic exposed and unexposed population. 138 e...

Arsenicosis is a global problem but the recent data reveals that Asian countries, India and Bangladesh in particular, are the worst sufferers. In India, the state of West Bengal bears the major brunt of the problem, with almost 12 districts presently in the grip of this deadly disease. Recent reports suggest that other states in the Ganga/Brahmaputra plains are also showing alarming levels of a...

This study conducted in Bangladesh reports the relationship of clinical complications with nutritional status and the prevalence of leukopenia among arsenic exposed patients living in the rural villages. A total of 115 exposed individuals diagnosed as arsenicosis patients were randomly selected from four known arsenic endemic villages, and age-matched 120 unexposed subjects were enrolled in the...

We report the results of a coordinated mitigation effort aimed at reducing arsenic (As) exposure in three counties of Guizhou province, China. Mitigation occurred in 2005 and encompassed 21 villages with 47,000 inhabitants, who were exposed to high levels of As in their diet through consumption of As-contaminated chili peppers and corn dried over unventilated stoves that burned coal containing ...