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Arsenic Crisis News
April 2003 V3 N06
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+ From the Editor
** Update On Keeping ACIC Alive Past June 2003
** Deep Tube Wells For Arsenic Mitigation?

+ Recent & Upcoming Meetings & Conferences
Updated Conference Web Pages & Sites

+ Selected Recent Media Articles Online

+ New & Newly-Discovered Scientific & Technical
Publications On & Off Line

+ New & Newly-Discovered Web Sites & Web Pages
Updated Web Sites & Web Pages

+ New & Newly Discovered Real World Stuff

+ Publication & Other Details

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ACN is published by the Arsenic Crisis Info Centre, (c) ACIC.
Website http://www.bicn.com/acic. Editor Sara Bennett.

Email addresses appear in this newsletter with a space before &
after the @ symbol. To send email to an address, you must first
remove the spaces.

To visit long URLs that spill over onto more than one line, cut
and paste the *entire* URL (all lines of it) into the address
pane of your browser. Generally clicking on such URLs does *not*
work.

See end of message for how to subscribe, unsubscribe, submit,
etc.

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FROM THE EDITOR

** Update On Keeping ACIC Alive Past June 2003

We have submitted a proposal to the Arsenic Policy Support Unit
requesting funding to continue, institutionalize, and upgrade
ACIC/ACN, initially for one year. We understand that such
proposals must first gain the approval of an committee of experts
established for this purpose; approved proposals are then
forwarded to the foreign donor for their consideration.

Any support, suggestions, or feedback you can provide, if you are
involved in this process, or if you know someone who is, will be
greatly appreciated. (I am speaking here of legitimate/licit
forms of support, needless to say).

The current thinking is that should this proposal meet with
success, the project start date would be in Q4 2003. Therefore
whatever the outcome, ACIC/ACN will be dormant over the summer
and early fall.


** Deep Tube Wells For Arsenic Mitigation?

I've heard that significant numbers of DTWs are being drilled in
arsenic-affected areas to provide alternative safe water
supplies.

And I've heard/read reservations expressed by scientists about
the potential for arsenic contamination of the deep aquifer from
DTWs, and the need for safeguard measures to prevent and monitor
this.

I thought I also heard that the Government had declared a
moratorium of some sort of DTW development (for this purpose, or
for any purpose, I couldn't say.) But I can't find any explicit
reference to the Government's actual position or actions.

I have asked some colleagues and looked around on the WWW for the
latest on this "DTW as arsenic mitigation" issue, but have struck
out.

Anyone out there up to date on this? If so, please enlighten me…

email acic @ bicn.com .


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RECENT & UPCOMING MEETINGS & CONFERENCES AND UPDATED CONFERENCE
WEBPAGES & SITES

[None this issue.]


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SELECTED RECENT MEDIA ARTICLES ONLINE

[No articles from sources other than News From Bangladesh this
issue.]


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NEWS FROM BANGLADESH ARTICLES
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[Last article in the previous issue was dated 2003-02-20.]

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http://www.bangladesh-web.com/news/apr/06/n06042003.htm#A14

VMS6 and clean water can be effective treatment for arsenic
victims: Study - 6 Apr 03

A combination of antioxidants (VMS6) and clean water could be an
effective treatment for the arsenic victims, reports BSS. This
was revealed in a study on "Control Clinical Trial of Antioxidant
in Arsenicosis in Bangladesh" conducted by a research group of
the Bangladesh Arsenic Control Society (BACS). VMS6 is a mixture
caplet of six vitamins and minerals (beta carotene, ascorbic
acid, alpha tocopherol, folic acid, zinc and selenium).

The study, however, said the proposed solution required further
exploration to determine the optimum dose of drugs, duration of
treatment and best combination of antioxidants. "Vitamins and
minerals were proved useful and safe in reducing arsenic
toxicity," President of BACS and Project Director of Principal
Investigator Dr G H Rabbani said in a dissemination seminar on
the research.

The research was carried out on 300 men and women in Hajiganj
Upazila of Chandpur District, known as a highly arsenic
contaminated area in the country. "However, these should not be
considered as specific cure, although these can benefit patients
substantially when used as an adjunct to arsenic free water," he
said.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Khandkar Mosharraf Hossain
attended the inaugural session of the seminar as the chief guest
at the ICDDR,B auditorium in the city Saturday. The Health
Minister termed the research sponsored by UNICEF and Government
of Bangladesh as "very timely" and said, "Arsenic poisoning is
not only a risk to human health, it also affects our society,
environment and economic structure."

The government has mobilised its limited resources through
various ministries, he said expressing the hope that the study of
the BACS would be a landmark for the treatment of the arsenic
patients. Chaired by ICDDR,B Director David A Sack the function
was addressed, among others, by Secretary of the Forest and
Environment Ministry Sabiuddin Ahmed, Patron in Chief of BACSA K
Azad Khan, Head of the Health and Nutrition, UNICEF Bangladesh
Kayode S Oyegbite and General Secretary of BACS Afzal Hossain.
Meanwhile, another report from Meherpur adds: Arsenic
contamination in 60 per cent tubewells water has been detected in
three upazilas and two pourasavas of the district, official
sources said.

The Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) conducted a
survey in the water of 3,975 tubewells out of 7,995 tubewells in
the district and noted with concern that water of 1,685 tubewells
was found arsenic contamination. During the survey, the PHED has
marked the arsenic affected tubewells and advised people of the
area not to drink water of the red marked tubewells. But people
are using water of these tubewells as there is no other
alternative source of drinking water in the affected villages of
the district.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) 0.05 mg arsenic
per litre of water is the tolerable unit for Bangladesh. But
sample collected from different parts of the district indicated
that the high percentage of the arsenic contents like that of
0.51 mg to 0.56 mg in the tubewells water is extremely dangerous
for public health. Non-availability of medicine and kit box in
the local Public Health Engineering Department offices for
testing arsenic contamination in tubewells water increased the
sufferings of the people.

A survey recorded that ring-well popularly known, as `patkua'' is
free from arsenic contamination. Local people urged the concerned
authorities to conduct arsenic test free of cost and setup ring-
well `patkua'' in the affected villages of the district. (BSS)


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http://www.bangladesh-web.com/news/apr/01/d01042003.htm#A2

Case Against British Geological Survey (BGS) Underway In London -
1 Apr 03

By Sylvia Mortoza

The case against the British Geological Survey (BGS) is, it was
negligent in not testing for arsenic when it conducted a pilot
project assessing ground water in central and north-eastern
Bangladesh in 1992. The water quality survey on 19 wells was
recorded in Davies J and Exley C, 1992. BGS Technical Report
WD/92/43R. Hydrochemical Character of the Main Aquifer Units of
Central and North-eastern Bangladesh and Possible Toxicity of
Groundwater to Fish and Humans and "The Hydrogeochemistry of
Alluvial Aquifers in Central Bangladesh" by J. Davies. In:
Groundwater Quality; H.Nash and GJH McCall (eds). Chapman Hall,
1994,

The abstract to the second paper states "The groundwaters are all
of Ca(HCO3)2 type, suitable for crop irrigation and domestic
use." This paper appeared three years after the Indian PHED
Report of 1991 into the arsenic crisis in West Bengal and in the
same year as: Das et al. 1994. Arsenic contamination of six
districts in West Bengal, India: the biggest arsenic calamity in
the World. Analyst, 199, 168-170. Yet neither of these BGS
articles mentions arsenic although, according to experts, the
data contains many very clear chemical pointers to its presence
(high phosphorus and iron, highish bicarbonate)
Although we have no wish to try this case in the media, from the
above it would seem the victims of arsenic poisoning do have a
strong case against BGS and we will be watching the legal
proceedings now underway in London with interest.
At the time that a team of British lawyers visited Bangladesh in
mid-2001, the number of people suffering from arsenic poisoning
was estimated to be 8,000. Since then the number has risen and
over 10,000 confirmed cases of poisoning has been recorded. As
arsenic poisoning, gangrene, internal damage and many other
diseases are some of the effects of drinking arsenic contaminated
water on a daily basis, even one case is a case too many.

As 2,000 of these patients are from those areas surveyed by BGS
in 1991-92, the lawyers for the Bangladesh Government will argue
at a preliminary hearing that the British Geological Survey (BGS)
does have a case to answer. A brief idea of events and the legal
process is given below to update our readers on developments.

Bangladesh International Action Network (BIAN) indicated they
would file a writ petition with the High Court seeking a ban on
the installation of new shallow tubewells in the country, after
which they would initiate a process for compensation for families
of the dead and the affected. They also said they would take the
issue to the International Court of Justice at The Hague.
Barrister Ajmalul Hossain said BIAN was quoted as saying they
were equipped with enough facts and figures for proceeding with a
public interest case on arsenic poisoning.

Coming closely on the heels of this, the group of British lawyers
who came to Bangladesh on a fact-finding mission began to prepare
thousands of legal claims on behalf of Bangladeshis suffering
from arsenic related illnesses. The team of lawyers from Leigh,
Day & Co met 15 arsenic victims in two villages of Chandpur
district in May and July, 2001 when the victims asked them to
begin the legal action in London.

These two groups joined hands and Brotee gave Leigh, Day and Co,
a British Law firm, full support. In addition, the British Legal
Aid System gave the go-ahead for preparing the legal claims of
those suffering from arsenic related illness against the British
Geological Survey (BGS). Others involved in the action include
The Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST) and the
Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA).
Compensations ranging from 5000 pounds to 100,000 pounds could be
claimed for an arsenic victim of the region depending on the
graveness of the damage caused by arsenic poisoning.

Although a BBC reports says, "For many people in Bangladesh it
can sometimes be a choice between death by arsenic poisoning or
death by diarrhoea," this we dispute because diarrhoea can be
prevented and treated whereas arsenic poisoning although
preventable by stopping the intake of contaminated water, once
the victim reaches the point of no return, he/she cannot be saved
and his/her fate is long suffering and a painful death.

Although the case brought by two Bangladeshi residents, Binod
Sutradhar and Lucky Begum, who allege that BGS' failure to detect
high levels of arsenic in ground water endangered their lives
will not bring back the dead, it will give their families a sense
of justice served. The only fear now is for a bureaucratic cover-
up.

Sylvia Mortoza writes from Dhaka , Her email is zainah @
bdonline.com


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http://www.bangladesh-web.com/news/mar/02/n02032003.htm#A5

Arsenic contamination detected in 597 tubewells - 2 Mar 03

UNB, Chapainawabganj - Arsenic beyond permissible limit has been
detected in 597 tubewells in the pourashava area here recently.
Public Health Engineering Department sources said water of 1738
tubewells were examined in the area under Arsenic Mitigation
Water Supply Project and it was detected in 597 tubewells.

Besides, arsenic contamination has been detected in the waters of
two deep tubewells of the water supply system of the pourashava.
Locals said these tubewells have been sealed off without any
alternative arrangement of supply of pure water in the area. The
sources said some 38 arsenic related disease affected people have
been identified in the area. (UNB)


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http://www.bangladesh-web.com/news/mar/01/n01032003.htm#A4

Dupitila formation free of arsenic - 1 Mar 03

Experts said here on Thursday that extensive mapping of Duptila
formation, an arsenic free geological layer, should be done for
safe groundwater extraction in the country. Hydro geologist and
executive member Bangladesh Geological Society Nurun Nabi told
BSS that the geologists are almost unanimous that country's
Dupitila formations are free from arsenic contamination.

The experts said Dupitila formations are found at 600 to 900 feet
depths depending on different areas of the country. The formation
in this part of the region is in progress since Pleistocene
period that is the first epoch of the Quaternary period including
the great ice age from about 1,700,000 to 8000 years ago.
Quaternary period is the last of the period of geological time,
it includes the Pleistocene and Holocene epochs that is the last
2,00,000 years and still in progress.

Mr Nurun Nabi said the local geologists should come forward to
assist the authorities to map out the entire Dupitla formation of
the country to facilitate the evolution and introduction of a
national tubewell protocol. Geologist Kazi Matin said the
tubewells at present are being mostly installed on the need basis
which might hurt the underground aquifer and create another
environmental hazard.

Mr Nunur Nabi mapping of Dupitila formation would be a first step
forward towards doing something in real terms to ensure pure
drinking water supply to arsenic contaminated areas. He said in
real terms the country was yet to find out a safe and effective
solution to avail potable water as arsenic contamination has
become a sever problem exposing more than 35 million people to
risk.

The experts were of the view that indiscriminate and unplanned
installation of the tubewells of all kinds would create yet
another crisis. "There is no way other than mapping out arsenic
free aquifers, introducing tubewells installation protocol and
above all framing out national water distribution policy to
ensure environment hazard free potable water supply in the
future, " he said. (BSS)


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http://www.bangladesh-web.com/news/mar/01/n01032003.htm#A5

Arsenic detected in tube-wells water - 1 Mar 03

Arsenic beyond limit has been detected in the waters of 15,000
tube-wells in Rajarhat and Ulipur upazilas of the district. A
total of 387 people have been identified as attacked with arsenic
related disease. After the detection of arsenic in tube-wells
waters, no pragmatic measures have been undertaken to find a
solution to the menace during the last one year except the work
of marking the tube-wells red and green under Arsenic Mitigation
Water Supply Project through an NGO in collaboration with Public
Health Engineering Department. The work involved lakhs of taka.

The people of the two upazilas after the marking of tube-wells
started using waters from ponds, rivers and canals and were
attacked with water borne diseases. At one stage, they removed
the red marks from the tube-wells and began to use waters from
them, exposing themselves to arsenic poisoning. The people, in
fact, fell in trouble as no programmes were undertaken for the
supply of safe water to the people after execution of tube-wells
marking programme. The people did not know how to remove arsenic
if found in the waters of the newly sunk tube-wells. Nor could
they be certain about the existence of arsenic in the newly sunk
tube-wells.

The correspondent during his spot visit to the arsenic affected
areas found no red and green marks on any tube-wells. The local
people told the correspondent that they were using waters from
the tube-wells after removing red marks from those as they had no
means to sink tube-wells anew. Informed sources said an NGO,
BDSC started testing arsenic beyond limit in the waters of tube-
wells in Rajarhat upazila under Arsenic Mitigation Water Supply
Project since December 11, 2000. The NGO after examining 23,156
tube-wells in seven unions under the upazila found arsenic beyond
limit in the waters of 4,534 tube-wells and identified 137 people
as attacked with arsenic related diseases.

The programme of marking tube-wells green in Rajarhat upazila
involved Tk 11 lakh. Besides, the NGO after examining 35,487
tube-wells in 13 unions under Ulipur upazila found arsenic beyond
limit in the waters of 9,787 tube-wells and identified 250 people
as attacked with arsenic related disease. The limit of arsenic in
the waters of those tube-wells was 02.1 to 05.1. (The
Independent)


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NEW & NEWLY DISCOVERED SCIENTIFIC/TECHNICAL PUBLICATIONS
ON & OFF LINE

Sorted by year (newest first), alphabetical by title within each
year.

The previous issue mentioned that the Journal of Environmental
Science and Health Volume 38, Issue 1, 2003, is a "Special Issue
On Arsenic: Environment And Health Aspects With Special Reference
To Groundwater In South Asia." In this issue of ACN, citations
to each of the articles in this issue of JESH appear below.
[Table of Contents at
http://www.dekker.com/servlet/product/productid/ESE/toc?nb=#1 ]


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2003
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Antioxidants in detoxification of arsenic-induced oxidative
injury in rabbits - preliminary results. Golam Hassan Rabbani,
Shyamal Kumar Saha, Mastura Akhtar, Farzana Marni, Amal Krishna
Mitra, Shamsir Ahmed, Mohammad Alauddin, Maya Bhattacharjee,
Shamima Sultana, A. K. Azad Chowdhury. Journal of Environmental
Science and Health, Part A-Toxic/Hazardous Substances &
Environmental Engineering, 2003 38(1), 273 - 287. [Free abstract
& article purchase at
http://www.dekker.com/servlet/product/DOI/101081ESE120016894 ]

Abstract: To assess the oxidative injuries caused by arsenic
toxicity in rabbits and evaluate the detoxifying effects of
exogenous antioxidants, we administered arsenic trioxide (3-5
mg/kg/day) in rabbits through a feeding tube for seven days.
These rabbits were then treated with a recipe of vitamins, zinc,
selenium (VZS) or a plant polyphenol or a placebo for the next
seven days. Blood samples were collected from ear vein for
spectrophotometric assay of reduced glutathione (GSH),
thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), and
nitrite/nitrate (NOx; index of nitric oxide formation) before
arsenic administration, seven days after arsenic administration,
and seven days after antioxidant treatment. The total arsenic
concentrations in hair and spot urine samples of rabbits before
arsenic administration were 0.6 ± 0.21 µg/g and 34.0 ± 5.9
µg/L, respectively. Administration of arsenic trioxide
significantly
increased arsenic concentrations in hair and in urine to 2.8 ±
0.40 µg/g (p<0.001) and 7372 ± 1392.0 µg/L (p<0.001),
respectively. Arsenic administration to rabbits significantly
reduced GSH concentration (post-arsenic,17.5 ± 0.81 mg/dL vs.
pre-arsenic, 32.0 ± 0.76 mg/dL, p<0.001), increased TBARS
concentration (post-arsenic, 8 ± 1.1 µM vs. pre-arsenic, 5 ±
0.7 µM, p<0.05), and NOx concentration (post-arsenic, 465 ± 38.5
µM vs. pre-arsenic, 320 ± 24.7 µM, p<0.001) as compared to
the pre-
arsenic levels. There was a negative correlation between TBARS
and GSH concentrations (r = -0.464, p<0.01) and between NOx and
GSH concentrations (r = - 0.381, p<0.05) of intoxicated rabbits.
The recovery of the depleted GSH was significantly greater in the
polyphenols (77.0 ± 12.0%) or VZS (67.0 ± 17.0%) treatment
groups compared with the placebo group (36.0 ± 7.0%). The decrease
in NOx level of arsenic-treated rabbits was significantly greater in
polyphenols treatment group than the placebo group (60.0 ± 9.0%
vs. 17.0 ± 6.0%, p<0.001). These results indicate that arsenic
induces toxicity in rabbits associated with an increase in lipid
peroxidation. Arsenic toxicity increases nitric oxide production
in the body. Exogenous antioxidants such as polyphenols and
recipe of vitamins, zinc, and selenium are useful for arsenic
detoxification.


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Arsenic groundwater contamination and sufferings of people in
North 24-Parganas, one of the nine arsenic affected districts of
West Bengal, India. Mohammad Mahmudur Rahman, Badal Kumar
Mandal, Tarit Roy Chowdhury, Mrinal Kumar Sengupta, Uttam Kumar
Chowdhury, Dilip Lodh, Chitta Ranjan Chanda, Gautam Kumar Basu,
Subhash Chandra Mukherjee, Kshitish Chandra Saha, Dipankar
Chakraborti. Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part
A-Toxic/Hazardous Substances & Environmental Engineering, 2003
38(1), 25 - 59. [Free abstract & article purchase at
http://www.dekker.com/servlet/product/DOI/101081ESE120016658 ]

Abstract: To understand the magnitude of the arsenic calamity in
West Bengal, a detailed study spanning 7 years was made in North
24-Parganas, one of the nine arsenic affected districts. Area and
population of North 24-Parganas district are 4093.82 sq. km and
7.3 million, respectively. Fourty eight thousand and thirty water
samples were analyzed from hand tubewells of North 24-Parganas in
use for drinking, cooking and 29.2% of the tubewells were found
to have arsenic above 50 µg/L, the maximum permissible limit of
World Health Organization (WHO) and 52.8% have arsenic above 10
µg/L, WHO recommended value of arsenic in drinking water. Out of
the 22 blocks of North 24-Parganas, in 20 blocks arsenic has been
found above the maximum permissible limit and so far in 16 blocks
people have been identified as suffering from arsenical skin
lesions. From the generated data, it is estimated that about 2.0
million and 1.0 million people are drinking arsenic contaminated
water above 10 µg/L and 50 µg/L level, respectively in North 24-
Parganas alone. So far, in our preliminary study 33,000 people
have been examined at random from arsenic affected villages in
North 24-Parganas and 2274 people have been registered with
arsenical skin lesions. Extrapolation of the available data
indicates about 0.1 million people may be suffering from
arsenical skin lesions from North 24-Parganas alone. A sum of
21,000 hair, nail, and urine samples analyses from arsenic
affected villages show 56%, 80%, and 87% people have arsenic in
biological specimen more than normal/toxic (hair) level,
respectively. Thus, many may be subclinically affected. Due to
use of arsenic contaminated groundwater for agricultural
irrigation, rice and vegetable are getting arsenic contaminated.
Hence there is an additional arsenic burden from food chain.
People from arsenic affected villages are also suffering from
arsenical neuropathy. A followup study indicates that many of the
victims suffering from severe arsenical skin lesions for several
years are now suffering from cancer or have already died of
cancer.


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Arsenic in Australian environment - an overview. E. Smith, J.
Smith, L. Smith, T. Biswas, R. Correll, R. Naidu. Journal of
Environmental Science and Health, Part A-Toxic/Hazardous
Substances & Environmental Engineering, 2003 38(1), 223 - 239.
[Free abstract & article purchase at
http://www.dekker.com/servlet/product/DOI/101081ESE120016891 ]

Abstract: The most common source of elevated As concentrations
in the Australian environment are attributable to anthropogenic
activities. Mining activities have contributed to the
contamination of soil and water primarily in Western Australia
and Victoria. However, other anthropogenic activities such as
agriculture, forestry and industry have also contaminated soil
and water at a localized scale. Currently there are over 1000 As
contaminated sites previously used as cattle dips for eradicating
cattle ticks. Although As contamination of the environment may be
severe enough to limit plant growth there appears to be few other
reports identifying the impacts of the contaminants on other
organisms, such as fish, mammals and humans. In Australia the
impacts of metal/metalloid contamination of the environment are
often unnoticed or ignored. However, the impacts of elements such
as As may pass unnoticed by the public or regulators due to the
perception of the minimal impact a contaminant has on the
environment. This paper presents an overview of As in the
Australian environment including the sources of As contamination,
soil, water and plant As content, and the pathways of exposure.


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Chemical fate of arsenic and other metals in groundwater of
Bangladesh - experimental measurement and chemical equilibrium
model. A. Hussam, M. Habibuddowla, M. Alauddin, Z. A. Hossain,
A. K. M. Munir, A. H. Khan. Journal of Environmental Science and
Health, Part A-Toxic/Hazardous Substances & Environmental
Engineering, 2003 38(1), 71 - 86. [Free abstract & article
purchase at
http://www.dekker.com/servlet/product/DOI/101081ESE120016882 ]

Abstract: The presence of toxic level of inorganic arsenic in
groundwater used for drinking in Bangladesh and neighboring India
is unfolding as one of the worst natural disaster in the region.
The purpose of this work is to ascertain the chemical fate of
arsenic and other metals in groundwater of Bangladesh. A
combination of techniques was used to measure 24 metals, 6
anions, Eh, pH, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, and temperature
to understand the distribution of components which were then used
in computational chemical equilibrium model, MINEQL+, for
detailed speciation. It was found that the fate of arsenic and
its speciation were inextricably linked to the formation of
hydrous ferric oxide (HFO) and its kinetic. The HFO induced
natural attenuation removes 50-75% of total arsenic in first 24 h
through a first order kinetics. Adsorption on HFO is the
predominant mode of removal of arsenic, iron, manganese, and most
trace metals. The equilibrium model points to the presence of
excess active sites for the removal of arsenic. MINEQL+ shows
that significantly higher concentration of HFO forming iron is
required to remove arsenic below maximum contamination level
(MCL) of 50 µg/L than predicted by stoichiometry. The practical
implication of this work is the prediction of water quality based
on models.


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Chronic arsenic toxicity: clinical features, epidemiology, and
treatment: experience in West Bengal. D. N. Guha Mazumder.
Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part A-
Toxic/Hazardous Substances & Environmental Engineering, 2003
38(1), 141 - 163. [Free abstract & article purchase at
http://www.dekker.com/servlet/product/DOI/101081ESE120016886 ]

Abstract: Chronic arsenic toxicity due to drinking arsenic-
contaminated water has been one of the worst environmental health
hazards affecting eight districts of West Bengal since the early
eighties. Detailed clinical examination and investigation of 248
such patients revealed protean clinical manifestations of such
toxicity. Over and above hyperpigmentation and keratosis,
weakness, anaemia, burning sensation of eyes, solid swelling of
legs, liver fibrosis, chronic lung disease, gangrene of toes,
neuropathy, and skin cancer are some of the other manifestations.
A cross-sectional survey involving 7683 participants of all ages
was conducted in an arsenic-affected region between 04 1995 and
03 1996. Out of a population of 7683 surveyed, 3467 and 4216
people consumed water containing As below and above 0.05 mg/L,
respectively. Except pain abdomen the prevalence of all other
clinical manifestations tested (e.g., pigmentation, keratosis,
Hepatomegaly, weakness, nausea, lung disease and neuropathy) were
found to be significantly higher in As exposed people (water
As>0.05 mg/L) compared to control population (water As level<0.05
mg/L). The prevalence of pigmentation and keratosis,
hepatomegaly, chronic respiratory disease and weakness rose
significantly with increasing arsenic concentrations in drinking
water. The respiratory effects were most pronounced in
individuals with high arsenic water concentrations who also had
skin lesion. Therapy with chelating agent DMSA was not found to
be superior to placebo effect. However, therapy with DMPS caused
significant improvement of clinical condition of chronic
arsenicosis patients as evidenced by significant reduction of
total clinical scores from 8.90 ± 2.84 to 3.27 ± 1.73;
p<0.0001. Efficacy of specific chelation therapy for patients
suffering from chronic As toxicity has further need to be fully
substantiated. However, supportive treatment could help in
reducing many symptoms of the patients. Treatment in hospital
with good nutritious diet has been found to reduce symptom score
in a subset of placebo treated patients in West Bengal during the
course of DMSA and DMPS trial. People should be advised to stop
drinking As contaminated water or exposure to As from any other
source. The various clinical manifestations should be treated
symptomatically.


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Diagnosis of arsenicosis. Kshitish Chandra Saha. Journal of
Environmental Science and Health, Part A-Toxic/Hazardous
Substances & Environmental Engineering, 2003 38(1), 255 - 272.
[Free abstract & article purchase at
http://www.dekker.com/servlet/product/DOI/101081ESE120016893 ]

Abstract: Arsenicosis is chronic subclinical or clinical
toxicity due to high level of arsenic in body. Diagnosis of
arsenicosis was derived by chronological establishment of facts:
(a) arsenic as the cause of malady, (b) drinking water (tubewell
water) as the vehicle of arsenic, (c) soil as the source of
arsenic, (d) mechanism of leaching of arsenic from soil, and (e)
cause of prevalence in particular areas of the country.
Arsenicosis has been classified by the author into 4 stages, 7
grades and 20 subgrades. Stage I is pre-clinical or grade O.
While clinical features were not found at this stage, high level
of arsenic metabolites was observed in urine. As disease
progressed to stable phase of grade O, high level of arsenic was
also found in nails, hair, and skin scales. Stage II or clinical
stage is divided into 4 grades, (1) Melanosis, (2) Spotted
keratosis in palms/soles, (3) Diffuse keratosis in palms/soles,
and (4) Dorsal keratosis. Clinical complications are grouped in
stage III and grade 5. Malignancy is considered in stage IV and
grade 6. There is a concern of both underdiagnosis and
overdiagnosis. Therefore, cases of arsenicosis should be
cautiously evaluated. Melanosis was the earliest cutaneous sign
of clinical arsenicosis. Mild cases of melanosis could only be
revealed by a thorough comparison with normal palms. Similarly
mild cases of keratosis might not be visible and could only be
revealed by careful palpation of palms and soles. Combination of
melanosis and keratosis in adults indicated clinical diagnosis of
arsenical dermatosis (ASD) that should be confirmed by showing
high arsenic concentration in body tissues e.g., nails, hair,
skin scales. Isolated melanosis or keratosis in newborn or
children below 2 years almost negated the diagnosis of
arsenicosis. Genetic melanosis or keratosis is often present
since birth. Isolated melanosis or keratosis in adults should be
differentiated from non-arsenical dermatosis and proven by
absence of high arsenic level in nails and hair. Non arsenical
causes of diffuse melanosis, spotted melanosis or leucomelanosis
and localized or generalized keratosis can be clinically
differentiated from arsenicosis by absence of pigmentation and
keratosis in palms/soles.


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A dugwell program to provide arsenic-safe water in West Bengal,
India - Preliminary Results. Meera M. Hira Smith, Timir Hore,
Protap Chakraborty, D. K. Chakraborty, Xavier Savarimuthu, Allan
H. Smith. Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part A-
Toxic/Hazardous Substances & Environmental Engineering, 2003
38(1), 289 - 299. [Free abstract & article purchase at
http://www.dekker.com/servlet/product/DOI/101081ESE120016895 ]
[Identical version, free access, at
http://projectwellusa.org/articles/art_dugwellprog_as-safe.pdf]

Abstract: In 1982, Dr. K. C. Saha, a dermatologist of Calcutta,
West Bengal, identified patients with skin lesions from the
district of 24 Parganas, leading him and others to search for a
cause. The cause was soon identified to be arsenic in drinking
water, but even today, 20 years later, large number of people
continue to drink arsenic contaminated water and patients are
increasing in number. Project Well is a program chosen for
implementation in some villages of North 24 Parganas. Arsenic
safe drinking water is provided for adopted villages by
constructing shallow, concrete dugwells designed to tap the water
of the unconfined aquifer, 20-30 feet below ground level, that
contains low levels (<0.05 mg/L) of arsenic in the target region.
The traditional dugwell design is modified by use of tube well
hand pumps to withdraw water. The project includes community
involvement, programs to increase awareness of the need to drink
arsenic safe water, and training in monitoring of dugwell water
for arsenic and harmful pathogens. Disinfecting of the water and
regulating the water hazard diagram are also included in the
training program. The plan is to make the system sustainable at
the village level using indigenous labor and materials.


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Effects of arsenic on younger generations. Chiho Watanabe,
Tsukasa Inaoka, Tamano Matsui, Kyoko Ishigaki, Nobuko Murayama,
Ryutaro Ohtsuka. Journal of Environmental Science and Health,
Part A-Toxic/Hazardous Substances & Environmental Engineering,
2003 38(1), 129 - 139. [Free abstract & article purchase at
http://www.dekker.com/servlet/product/DOI/101081ESE120016885 ]

Abstract: Health risks caused by the chronic exposure to
arsenic-contaminated groundwater has been recognized in many
Asian and Latin American countries. While the health effects
among adults have been well documented, those among the younger
generations including children, infants, babies, and fetus have
been scarcely reported. In this minireview, possible effects of
chronic arsenic exposure on the younger generations are discussed
in terms of skin manifestations among the children, exposure
among newborns and infants especially from the breast milk, child
growth and development, reproductive performance. For each of the
topics, our preliminary results obtained in an arsenic-
contaminated area in Bangladesh will be described, followed by a
brief overview on the recent publications dealing with the topic.
Although there exist some human data that suggest possible
effects on some of the above-mentioned endpoints, the data as a
whole is too premature to conclude whether the arsenic poses
serious threat to younger generations or not. Considering the
public health importance of toxic effects imposed during the
early life stages, it is clear that much more scientific efforts
should be made to elucidate the possible effects of arsenic on
the younger generations.


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The efficacy of monoisoamyl ester of dimercaptosuccinic acid in
chronic experimental arsenic poisoning in mice. S. J. S. Flora,
G. M. Kannan, B. P. Pant, D. K. Jaiswal. Journal of
Environmental Science and Health, Part A-Toxic/Hazardous
Substances & Environmental Engineering, 2003 38(1), 241 - 254.
[Free abstract & article purchase at
http://www.dekker.com/servlet/product/DOI/101081ESE120016892 ]

Abstract: The therapeutic efficacy of monoisoamyl meso-2,3-
dimercaptosuccinic acid (MiADMSA), a new monoester of 2,3-
dimercaptosuccinic acid on arsenic induced oxidative stress in
liver and kidneys, alterations in hematopoietic system and
depletion of arsenic burden was assessed, in mice. Three
different doses of MiADMSA (25, 50 or 100 mg/kg) for five
consecutive days were administered in chronically arsenic exposed
mice (10 ppm in drinking water for six months). Oral
administration of MiADMSA particularly at a dose of 50 mg/kg,
produced relatively more pronounced beneficial effects on the
inhibited blood d-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD),
biochemical variables indicative of hepatic and renal oxidative
stress and depletion of arsenic concentration in blood, liver and
kidneys, compared with intraperitoneal administration of the
drug. The treatment with MiADMSA although, produced essential
metals imbalance which could be a restrictive factor for the
possible therapeutic use of this compound in chronic arsenic
poisoning and thus require further exploration.


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Food chain aspects of arsenic contamination in Bangladesh -
effects on quality and productivity of rice. J. M. Duxbury, A.
B. Mayer, J. G. Lauren, N. Hassan. Journal of Environmental
Science and Health, Part A-Toxic/Hazardous Substances &
Environmental Engineering, 2003 38(1), 61 - 69. [Free abstract &
article purchase at
http://www.dekker.com/servlet/product/DOI/101081ESE120016881 ]

Abstract: The total arsenic content of 150 paddy rice samples
collected from Barisal, Comilla, Dinajpur, Kaunia, and Rajshahi
districts, and from the BRRI experimental station at Rajshahi
city in the boro and aman seasons of 2000 was determined by
hydride generation-inductively coupled plasma emission
spectroscopy (ICP). Arsenic concentrations varied from 10 to 420
µg/kg at 14% moisture content. Rice yields and grain arsenic
concentrations were 1.5 times higher in the boro (winter) than
the summer (monsoon) season, consistent with the much greater use
of groundwater for irrigation in the boro season. Mean values for
the boro and aman season rices were 183 and 117 µg/kg,
respectively. The variation in arsenic concentrations in rice was
only partially consistent with the pattern of arsenic
concentrations in drinking water tube wells. There was no
evidence from yield or panicle sterility data of arsenic toxicity
to rice. Processing of rice (parboiling and milling) reduced
arsenic concentrations in rice by an average of 19% in 21 samples
collected from households. Human exposure to arsenic through rice
would be equivalent to half of that in water containing 50 µg/kg
for 14% of the paddy rice samples at rice and water intake levels
of 400 g and 4 L/cap/day, respectively.


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Genetic polymorphism in p53 Codon 72 and skin cancer in
southwestern Taiwan. Yen-Ching Chen, Lilian Xu, Yu-Liang Leon
Guo, Huey-Jen Jenny Su, Yu-Mei Hsueh, Thomas J. Smith, Louise M.
Ryan, Meei-Shyuan Lee, Sheau-Chiou Chaor, Julia Yu-Yun Lee, David
C. Christiani. Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part
A-Toxic/Hazardous Substances & Environmental Engineering, 2003
38(1), 201 - 211. [Free abstract & article purchase at
http://www.dekker.com/servlet/product/DOI/101081ESE120016889 ]

Abstract: The Pro/Pro polymorphism of p53 codon 72 has been
reported to be related to bladder and lung cancer, but its
relationship with skin cancer is unclear. We assessed the
hypothesis that there is a relationship between the p53 codon 72,
Pro/Pro polymorphism, cumulative arsenic exposure, and the risk
of skin cancer in a hospital-based case-control study in
southwestern Taiwan. From 1996 to 1999, 93 newly-diagnosed skin
cancer patients at the National Cheng-Kung University (NCKU)
Hospital and 71 community controls matched on residence were
recruited in southwestern Taiwan. The genotype of p53 codon 72
(Arg/Arg, Arg/Pro, or Pro/Pro) was determined for all subjects by
polymerase chain reaction-restricted fragment length polymorphism
(PCR-RFLP). A questionnaire was administered to each subject for
collection of demographic information, personal habits, disease
history, diet information, and other relevant questions. The
Pro/Pro (homozygous) genotype was more frequent in skin cancer
patients (cases, 20%; controls, 12%; P = 0.37). Subjects with the
susceptible genotype Pro/Pro and heterozygous (intermediate)
genotype Pro/Arg had 2.18 and 0.99 times risk of skin cancer than
the wild type Arg/Arg (95% confidence interval, 0.74-4.38; 95%
confidence interval, 0.44-2.21), respectively. Compared with
subjects with 18.5<BMI<23, subjects with BMI>18.5 had 5.78 times
risk of skin cancer (95% confidence interval, 1.06 to 31.36)
after adjusting for other risk factors. There was no interaction
between BMI and genotype, but the sample size was small. The risk
of skin cancer did not significantly vary by tumor cell-type. The
risk of skin cancer is increased in individuals with the Pro/Pro
genotype. Larger, confirmatory studies are needed to clarify the
role of constitutional polymorphisms in p53 and skin cancer risk.


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Groundwater arsenic contamination, its health impact and
mitigation program in Nepal Roshan R. Shrestha, Mathura P.
Shrestha, Narayan P. Upadhyay, Riddhi Pradhan, Rosha Khadka,
Arinita Maskey, Makhan Maharjan, Sabita Tuladhar, Binod M. Dahal,
Kabita Shrestha. Journal of Environmental Science and Health,
Part A-Toxic/Hazardous Substances & Environmental Engineering,
2003 38(1), 185 - 200. [Free abstract & article purchase at
http://www.dekker.com/servlet/product/DOI/101081ESE120016888 ]

Abstract: About 47% of Nepal's total population is living in
Terai region and 90% of them are relying on groundwater as their
major source of drinking water. About 200,000 shallow tubewells
have been installed by different agencies in 20 Terai districts,
serving 11 million people. Recently, arsenic contamination of
groundwater has been recognized as a public health problem in
Nepal. This has sensitized government, national and international
nongovernment organizations working on water quality sector to
carry out water quality assessment for arsenic in the affected
communities. So far, 15,000 tubewells has been tested where 23%
samples exceeded World Health Organization guideline value of 10
µg/L and 5% exceeded "Nepal Interim Arsenic Guideline" of 50
µg/L. It is estimated that around 0.5 million people in Terai are
living at risk of arsenic poisoning (>50 µg/L). Some recent
studies have reported the prevalence of dermatosis related to
arsenicosis from 1.3 to 5.1% and the accumulation of arsenic in
biological samples like hair and nail much higher than the
acceptable level. Though some steps are being taken by government
and private organizations to combat the problem, it has not been
able to cover all the affected communities. Nepal still needs
more research work on arsenic occurrence and effects and
mitigation programs simultaneously.


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Laboratory case identification of arsenic in Ronpibul village,
Thailand (2000-2002). Sumol Pavittranon, Kwanyuen Sripaoraya,
Staporn Ramchuen, Sirinmas Kachamatch, Wilaiwan Puttaprug, Narong
Pamornpusirikul, Siriluck Thaicharuen, Sutee Rujiwanitchkul,
Winai Walueng. Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part
A-Toxic/Hazardous Substances & Environmental Engineering, 2003
38(1), 213 - 221. [Free abstract & article purchase at
http://www.dekker.com/servlet/product/DOI/101081ESE120016890 ]

Abstract: Ronpibul village dwellers in the southern part of
Thailand have been exposed to arsenic in the water and the
environment over three generations. Over the past decades, clean
water supplies, utilization and consumption have been introduced
to the area. The villagers still use and select rainwater to
other forms of potable water. In 2000, the epidemiological survey
by Siripitayakunkit (Siripitayakunkit, U. Survey of Chronic
Arsenic Poisoning in Ronpiboon, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand,
2000. Proc. 6th International Conference on the Biochemistry of
Trace Elements, Guelph, Canada) showed prevalence rate at 24.7%,
by using the skin lesion as selection criteria. In 2000-2002,
attempt to initiate the local arsenic patient center, we
investigated the population at risk in three villages. The
laboratory analyses cover urine arsenic level, urine sugar
screening and skin lesion classified by dermatologist. The result
showed the prevalence of 5.99% of melanosis and 8.67% of
hyperkeratosis, 3.84% of urine sugar>100 mg/dL and 6.33% urine
arsenic>50 µg/g creatinine. There were low to negligible
correlation between arsenic urine with urine sugar (r2 = 0.241)
and arsenic urine with skin lesion (r2 = 0.058).


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Neuropathy in arsenic toxicity from groundwater arsenic
contamination in West Bengal, India. Subhash Chandra Mukherjee,
Mohammad Mahmudur Rahman, Uttam Kumar Chowdhury, Mrinal Kumar
Sengupta, Dilip Lodh, Chitta Ranjan Chanda, Kshitish Chandra
Saha, Dipankar Chakraborti. Journal of Environmental Science and
Health, Part A-Toxic/Hazardous Substances & Environmental
Engineering, 2003 38(1), 165 - 183. [Free abstract & article
purchase at
http://www.dekker.com/servlet/product/DOI/101081ESE120016887 ]

Abstract: Large number of people from 9 out of 18 districts of
West Bengal, India are endemically exposed to arsenic
contaminated groundwater due to drinking of tubewell water
containing arsenic level above World Health Organization's
maximum permissible limit of 50 µg/L. From our ongoing studies on
neurological involvement in patients of arsenicosis from
different districts of West Bengal, we report our findings in a
total of 451 patients of three districts (Murshidabad, Nadia, and
Burdwan), comprising 267 males and 184 females with age ranging
from 11 to 79 years. They all had arsenical skin lesions,
positive biomarkers and identified source of arsenic contaminated
water drinking. Peripheral neuropathy was the predominant
neurological complication in these patients affecting 154 (37.3%)
of 413 patients of Group 1 and 33 (86.8%) of 38 patients of Group
2. Other possible causes and alternative explanations of
neuropathy were excluded. The temporal profile in most of the
cases (154 of Group 1) were of chronic affection while the 33
patients of Group 2 developed both neuropathy and dermopathy
subacutely. Subacutely affected Group 2 patients had much higher
incidence of neuropathy. Paresthesias and pains in the distal
parts of extremities were much higher in incidence in Group 2
(73.7% and 23.7% respectively) than in Group 1 (18.4% and 11.1%).
Distal limb weakness or atrophy was evident in 7.3% in Group 1
and 10.5% in Group 2. Overall, sensory features were more common
than motor features in patients of neuropathy and sensory
neuropathy was diagnosed in 30% and 76.3% and sensorimotor in
7.3% and 10.5% respectively in Group 1 and Group 2 subjects.
Nerve conduction and electromyographic studies performed in 88
cases revealed dysfunction of sensory nerve in 45% and 27% and of
motor nerve in 20% and 16.7% of patients with moderate degree and
mild degree of clinical neuropathies respectively. Evoked
potential studies performed in 20 patients were largely normal
except for two instances each of abnormal visual evoked potential
and brainstem auditory evoked potential findings. Prognosis was
favorable in mild and early diagnosed cases of neuropathy whereas
most of the other more severe and late diagnosed cases showed
slow and partial recovery or even deterioration. Outcome in
neuropathic patients of arsenicosis and long term toxic
neurologic effects yet unexplored and unknown remain as matters
of future concern requiring close monitoring.


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Non-cancer effects of chronic arsenicosis in Bangladesh -
preliminary results. Abul Hasnat Milton, Ziaul Hasan, Atiqur
Rahman, Mahfuzar Rahman Journal of Environmental Science and
Health, Part A-Toxic/Hazardous Substances & Environmental
Engineering, 2003 38(1), 301 - 305. [Free abstract & article
purchase at
http://www.dekker.com/servlet/product/DOI/101081ESE120016896 ]

Abstract: A total of 136 patients were studied in three
Upazillas of Laxmipur, Barisal and Madaripur districts were
selected for health awareness campaign program. According to the
existing data, these villages were ranked as high exposure.
Demographic data of the patients investigated are showing
pigmentation was seen in all-136 cases, keratosis was found only
in 110 cases, and skin ulcer was detected in 13 cases. The
predominant features are indicating respiratory sign and symptoms
followed by conjunctival congestion and redness of eyes. Weakness
was predominant symptom, and all most all cases reported
weakness. There were few smokers (n = 16) and analyses were
confined to non-smokers (n = 94). A total of the 94 subjects
participated in this study. The sex ratio was 1:1.3 (male vs.
female). The relative risk of chronic cough increased with age
(RR = 2.12, for 26-50 age group; RR = 2.30 for age group more
than 51) reflecting chronic exposure, but the 95% confidence
intervals included unity. The relative risk of chronic bronchitis
increased with age (RR = 2.68, for 26-50 age group; RR = 2.30 for
age group more than 51) reflecting chronic exposure, but the 95%
confidence intervals also included unity. The findings presented
here provide evidence that ingestion of inorganic arsenic in
drinking water may results in increases risk of chronic cough and
bronchitis.


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Pattern of excretion of arsenic compounds [arsenite, arsenate,
MMA(V), DMA(V)] in urine of children compared to adults from an
arsenic exposed area in Bangladesh. Uttam Kumar Chowdhury,
Mohammad Mahmudur Rahman, Mrinal Kumar Sengupta, Dilip Lodh,
Chitta Ranjan Chanda, Shibtosh Roy, Quazi Quamruzzaman, Hiroshi
Tokunaga, Masanori Ando, Dipankar Chakraborti. Journal of
Environmental Science and Health, Part A-Toxic/Hazardous
Substances & Environmental Engineering, 2003 38(1), 87 - 113.
[Free abstract & article purchase at
http://www.dekker.com/servlet/product/DOI/101081ESE120016883 ]

Abstract: Urinary arsenic is generally considered as the most
reliable indicator of recent exposure to inorganic arsenic and is
used as the main bio-marker of exposure. However, due to the
different toxicity of arsenic compounds, speciation of arsenic in
urine is generally considered to be more convenient for health
risk assessment than measuring total arsenic concentration.
Additionally, it can give valuable information about the
metabolism of arsenic species within the body. In our study, for
exposed group-42 urine samples were collected from Datterhat
(South) village of Madaripur district, Bangladesh and an average
arsenic concentration in their drinking water was 376 µg/L (range
118 to 620 µg/L). For control group, 27 urine samples were
collected from a non-affected district, Badhadamil village of
Medinipur district, West Bengal, India, where arsenic
concentration in their drinking water is below 3 µg/L. The
arsenic species in the urine were separated and quantified by
using HPLC-ICP-MS. The sum of inorganic arsenic and its
metabolites was also determined by FI-HG-AAS. Results indicate
that average total urinary arsenic metabolites in children's
urine is higher than adults and total arsenic excretion per kg
body weight is also higher for children than adults. For arsenic
species between adults and children, it has been observed that
inorganic arsenic (In-As) in average is 2.36% and MMA is 6.55%
lower for children than adults while DMA is 8.91% (average)
higher in children than adults. The efficiency of the methylation
process is also assessed by the ratio between urinary
concentration of putative product and putative substrate of the
arsenic metabolic pathway. Higher values mean higher methylation
capacity. Results show the values of the MMA/In-As ratio for
adults and children are 0.93 and 0.74 respectively. These results
indicate that first reaction of the metabolic pathway is more
active in adults than children. But a significant increase in the
values of the DMA/MMA ratio in children than adults of exposed
group (8.15 vs. 4.11 respectively) indicates 2nd methylation step
is more active in children than adults. It has also been shown
that the distribution of the values of DMA/MMA ratio to exposed
group decrease with increasing age (2nd methylation process).
Thus from these results we may infer that children retain less
arsenic in their body than adults. This may also explain why
children do not show skin lesions compared to adults when both
are drinking same contaminated water.


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The spatial pattern of risk from arsenic poisoning - a Bangladesh
case study. M. Manzurul Hassan, Peter J. Atkins, Christine E.
Dunn. Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part A-
Toxic/Hazardous Substances & Environmental Engineering, 2003
38(1), 1 - 24. [Free abstract & article purchase at
http://www.dekker.com/servlet/product/DOI/101081ESE120016590 ]

Abstract: Arsenic poisoning in Bangladesh has been one of the
biggest environmental health and social disasters of recent
times. About seventy million people in Bangladesh are exposed to
toxic levels of arsenic (0.05 mg/L) in drinking water. It is
ironic that so many tubewells have been installed in recent times
to provide drinking water that is safe from water-borne diseases
but that the water pumped is contaminated with toxic levels of
arsenic. Along with the clinical manifestations, some social
problems have also emerged due to arsenic toxicity. Analysing the
spatial risk pattern of arsenic in groundwater is the main
objective of this paper. Establishing the extent of arsenic
exposure to the people will facilitate an understanding of the
health effects and estimating the population risk over the area.
This paper seeks to explore the spatial pattern of arsenic
concentrations in groundwater for analyzing and mapping 'problem
regions' or 'risk zones' for composite arsenic hazard information
by using GIS-based data processing and spatial analysis along
with state-of-the-art decision-making techniques. Quantitative
data along with spatial information were employed and analyzed
for this paper.


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Speciation of arsenic metabolite intermediates in human urine by
ion-exchange chromatography and flow injection hydride generation
atomic absorption spectrometry. Mohammad Alauddin, Sarah T.
Alauddin, Maya Bhattacharjee, Shamima Sultana, Dulaly Chowdhury,
Hawa Bibi, Gholam H. Rabbani. Journal of Environmental Science
and Health, Part A-Toxic/Hazardous Substances & Environmental
Engineering, 2003 38(1), 115 - 128. [Free abstract & article
purchase at
http://www.dekker.com/servlet/product/DOI/101081ESE120016884 ]

Abstract: Biomethylation is considered as the principal
metabolic and detoxification pathway for inorganic arsenic in
human. The end products of methylation are less toxic and more
readily excreted through urine. Therefore, speciation of
metabolites in urine is essential to a better understanding of
arsenic metabolism, health effects and detoxification ability of
individuals exposed to arsenic through drinking water, food and
environmental materials. Speciation of inorganic and methylated
arsenic in urine is an analytical challenge and often requires
expensive instrumentation. We have applied a relatively
inexpensive technique for the separation and analysis of various
arsenic species, such as, arsenite, arsenate, monomethylarsonic
acid (MMA) and dimethylarsinic acid (DMA) in human urine. The
technique is based on ion exchange chromatographic separation
followed by flow injection hydride generation atomic absorption
spectroscopy (FI-HG-AAS). The detection limit varies from 1.0 to
2.0 µg/L for various species. The technique has been successfully
applied to speciation of arsenic metabolite intermediates in
urine samples collected from patients in Hajiganj, a serious
arsenic affected area in Bangladesh. Arsenite (AsIII) was found
to be the major component in the urine from these patients. Our
findings from patients in Hajiganj, Bangladesh are presented in
this paper. The technique permits us to carry out arsenic
speciation in urine, essential for toxicological studies and
possible nutritional intervention in combating arsenic poisoning
in Bangladesh.


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2002
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Arsenic accumulation and metabolism in rice (Oryza sativa L.).
Abedin, M.J., Cresser, M.S., Meharg, A.A., Feldmann, J., and
Cotter-Howells, J. Environmental Science and Technology (2002),
36:962-968. [Full text access for purchase & subscribers at
http://pubs.acs.org/cgi-
bin/abstract.cgi/esthag/2002/36/i05/abs/es0101678.html]


Abstract: The use of arsenic (As) contaminated groundwater for
irrigation of crops has resulted in elevated concentrations of
arsenic in agricultural soils in Bangladesh, West Bengal (India),
and elsewhere. Paddy rice ( Oryza sativa L.) is the main
agricultural crop grown in the arsenic-affected areas of
Bangladesh. There is, therefore, concern regarding accumulation
of arsenic in rice grown those soils. A greenhouse study was
conducted to examine the effects of arsenic-contaminated
irrigation water on the growth of rice and uptake and speciation
of arsenic. Treatments of the greenhouse experiment consisted of
two phosphate doses and seven different arsenate concentrations
ranging from 0 to 8 mg of As L-1 applied regularly throughout the
170-day post-transplantation growing period until plants were
ready for harvesting. Increasing the concentration of arsenate in
irrigation water significantly decreased plant height, grain
yield, the number of filled grains, grain weight, and root
biomass, while the arsenic concentrations in root, straw, and
rice husk increased significantly. Concentrations of arsenic in
rice grain did not exceed the food hygiene concentration limit
(1.0 mg of As kg-1 dry weight). The concentrations of arsenic in
rice straw (up to 91.8 mg kg-1 for the highest As treatment) were
of the same order of magnitude as root arsenic concentrations (up
to 107.5 mg kg-1), suggesting that arsenic can be readily
translocated to the shoot. While not covered by food hygiene
regulations, rice straw is used as cattle feed in many countries
including Bangladesh. The high arsenic concentrations may have
the potential for adverse health effects on the cattle and an
increase of arsenic exposure in humans via the plant-animal-human
pathway. Arsenic concentrations in rice plant parts except husk
were not affected by application of phosphate. As the
concentration of arsenic in the rice grain was low, arsenic
speciation was performed only on rice straw to predict the risk
associated with feeding contaminated straw to the cattle.
Speciation of arsenic in tissues (using HPLC-ICP-MS) revealed
that the predominant species present in straw was arsenate
followed by arsenite and dimethylarsinic acid (DMAA). As DMAA is
only present at low concentrations, it is unlikely this will
greatly alter the toxicity of arsenic present in rice.


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Arsenic-uptake and accumulation in rice (Oryza sativa L.) irrigated
with contaminated water. Abedin, M.J., Cotter-Howells, J., and
Meharg, A.A. Plant and Soil (2002) 240: 311-319. [Full text
available to purchasers & subscribers at
http://www.ingenta.com/isis/searching/ExpandSearch/ingenta?
year_to=2003&author=abedin&year_from=1997&date_type=range&title=
rice&title_type=tka&database=1&newMatches=false&pageStart=1&index=
2&WebLogicSession=Pfq8QdzijNPBtgT3Eito|-6839285541206988507/-
1052814329/6/7051/7051/7052/7052/7051/-1]

Abstract: Long-term use of arsenic contaminated groundwater to
irrigate crops, especially paddy rice (Oryza sativa L.) has resulted
in elevated soil arsenic levels in Bangladesh. There is, therefore,
concern regarding accumulation of arsenic in rice grown on these
soils. A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the
impact of arsenic-contaminated irrigation water on the growth and
uptake of arsenic into rice grain, husk, straw and root. There were
altogether 10 treatments which were a combination of five arsenate
irrigation water concentrations (0–8 mg As l-1) and two soil
phosphate amendments. Use of arsenate containing irrigation water
reduced plant height, decreased rice yield and affected development
of root growth. Arsenic concentrations in all plant parts increased
with increasing arsenate concentration in irrigation water. However,
arsenic concentration in rice grain did not exceed the maximum
permissible limit of 1.0 mg As kg-1. Arsenic accumulation in rice
straw at very high levels indicates that feeding cattle with such
contaminated straw could be a direct threat for their health and
also, indirectly, to human health via presumably contaminated
bovine meat and milk. Phosphate application neither showed any
significant difference in plant growth and development, nor in As
concentrations in plant parts.


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Survey of arsenic in food composites from an arsenic-affected
area of West Bengal, India. Roychowdhury T, Uchino T, Tokunaga
H, Ando M. Food Chem Toxicol 2002 Nov;40(11):1611-21. [Abstract
at
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=
PubMed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=12176088]

Abstract: An investigation of total arsenic in food composites,
collected from the villagers, was carried out in arsenic-affected
areas of the Murshidabad district, West Bengal where the
agricultural system is mostly groundwater dependent. The
shallow, large-diameter tubewells installed for agricultural
irrigation contain an appreciable amount of arsenic (mean 0.085
mg/l, n=6). Even the soil is arsenic-contaminated (mean 11.35
mg/kg, n=36), so some arsenic can be expected in the food chain
from crops cultivated in this area. The results revealed that
the individual food composite and food groups containing the
highest mean arsenic concentrations (microg/kg) are potato skin
(292.62 and 104), leaf of vegetables (212.34 and 294.67), arum
leaf (331 and 341), papaya (196.50 and 373), rice (226.18 and
245.39), wheat (7 and 362), cumin (47.86 and 209.75), turmeric
powder (297.33 and 280.9), cereals and bakery goods (156.37 and
294.47), vegetables (91.73 and 123.22), spices (92.22 and 207.60)
and miscellaneous items (138.37 and 137.80) for the Jalangi and
Domkal blocks, respectively. Arsenic is absorbed by the skin of
most of the vegetables. The arsenic concentration in fleshy
vegetable material is low (mean 2.72 microg/kg, n=45). Higher
levels of arsenic were observed in cooked items compared with
raw. Daily dietary intakes of arsenic (microg) from the
foodstuffs for adults are 171.20 and 189.13 and for children are
91.89 and 101.63 in the Jalangi and Domkal blocks, respectively.


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Tubewells and arsenic in Bangladesh: challenging a public
health success story. Bruce K. Caldwell, John C. Caldwell,
S. N. Mitra and Wayne Smith. Paper presented at the IUSSP
Regional Population Conference on Southeast Asia's Population
in a Changing Asian Context, Session 9 Development, Urbanization,
Environment and Population Health, Bangkok, 10 – 13 June 2002.
[Full text at http://www.iussp.org/Bangkok2002/S09Caldwell.pdf,
referring page is
http://www.iussp.org/Bangkok2002/bangkok_papers.php ]

Abstract: Bangladesh was the scene for one of the developing
world's great public health successes, the reduction of morbidity
and mortality from water-borne disease by converting the drinking
water source for 94 percent of the rural population to tubewells.
Now, that success is being endangered by the discovery that 20
million people are in great danger and another 20 million in some
danger of being poisoned by arsenic contamination from tubewell
water. This article reports findings from the first national
probability survey of the rural population and a census of tubewells
aimed at looking at the social, demographic and epidemiological
context of the crisis. The survey covered 3,780 households
reporting on the water source and development of arsenicosis among
over 20,000 people. The tubewell census covered 9,174 tubewells.
The article presents data on the respondents' history of drinking
tubewell water, knowledge of the arsenic problem, identification of
arsenicosis, as well as the impact upon them of the national
campaign, the testing of tubewells, and their subsequent sources of
water. The study found that the tubewell revolution has been
promoted not only by health considerations but also by the demand
for a household water facility and the desire by women to reduce
workloads associated with using surface water. Because of this, and
because the population had absorbed the message about safe
tubewell water, it is argued that the movement away from the use of
tubewell water should be as limited as possible, except in the event
where no safe tubewells are found in the neighbourhood. The most
urgent need is not changing the source of water but comprehensive
national water testing.


-----------------------------------------------------------------
Uptake kinetics of arsenic species in rice (Oryza sativa L.).
Abedin, M. J., J. Feldmann and A. A. Meharg. Plant Physiol.
2002, 128:1120-1128. [Full text HTML and .pdf at
http://www.plantphysiol.org/cgi/content/full/128/3/1120?maxtoshow
=&HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&fulltext=arsenic&searchid=1051082
533857_338&stored_search=&FIRSTINDEX=0&volume=128&issue=3&journal
code=plantphysiol]

Abstract: Arsenic (As) finds its way into soils used for rice
(Oryza sativa) cultivation through polluted irrigation water, and
through historic contamination with As-based pesticides. As is
known to be present as a number of chemical species in such
soils, so we wished to investigate how these species were
accumulated by rice. As species found in soil solution from a
greenhouse experiment where rice was irrigated with arsenate
contaminated water were arsenite, arsenate, dimethylarsinic acid,
and monomethylarsonic acid. The short-term uptake kinetics for
these four As species were determined in 7-d-old excised rice
roots. High-affinity uptake (0-0.0532 mM) for arsenite and
arsenate with eight rice varieties, covering two growing seasons,
rice var. Boro (dry season) and rice var. Aman (wet season),
showed that uptake of both arsenite and arsenate by Boro
varieties was less than that of Aman varieties. Arsenite uptake
was active, and was taken up at approximately the same rate as
arsenate. Greater uptake of arsenite, compared with arsenate,
was found at higher substrate concentration (low-affinity uptake
system). Competitive inhibition of uptake with phosphate showed
that arsenite and arsenate were taken up by different uptake
systems because arsenate uptake was strongly suppressed in the
presence of phosphate, whereas arsenite transport was not
affected by phosphate. At a slow rate, there was a hyperbolic
uptake of monomethylarsonic acid, and limited uptake of
dimethylarsinic acid.


-----------------------------------------------------------------
2001
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Arsenic species in the environment. W. R. Cullen. Paper presented
at the USGS Workshop on Arsenic in the Environment, February 21-22,
2001, Denver, CO. [Full text at
http://wwwbrr.cr.usgs.gov/Arsenic/FinalAbsPDF/cullen.pdf .
Referring page:
http://wwwbrr.cr.usgs.gov/Arsenic/finalabstracts.htm ]

The principal soluble or volatile arsenic species found in the
terrestrial and fresh water environment are listed in Table 1. Those
found in the marine environment are listed in Table 2. It is
important to note that the organic derivatives can exist
in two oxidization states equivalent to the inorganic species
arsenate and arsenite. The history of their discovery parallels the
development of analytical methodology. The first compound to be
properly characterized was trimethylarsine, a gas produced by
microorganisms. Volatilization of the compound separated it from the
matrix and made identification possible, even in 1933, by using
classical techniques….


-----------------------------------------------------------------
Preliminary evaluation of arsenic cycling in the sediments of
Bangladesh. G. N. Breit, J. Whitney, A. Foster, A.H. Welch, J.
Yount, R. Sanzolone, Md. K. Islam, Md. S. Islam, Md. M. Islam, S.
Sutton, M. Newville. Paper presented at the USGS Workshop on
Arsenic in the Environment, February 21-22, 2001, Denver, CO. [Full
text at http://wwwbrr.cr.usgs.gov/Arsenic/FinalAbsPDF/breit.pdf .
Referring page:
http://wwwbrr.cr.usgs.gov/Arsenic/finalabstracts.htm ]

Introduction: Members of the Geological Survey of Bangladesh (GSB)
and the U. S. Geological Survey (USGS) are investigating the
processes responsible for the high concentrations of arsenic in
ground water underlying much of Bangladesh. The dissolved arsenic
concentrations have been attributed to reductive dissolution of iron
oxides (Nickson and others, 2000), oxidation of sulfides (Roy
Chowdhury, 1999), and anion exchange (Acharyya and others, 2000).
Preliminary analysis of our results indicate iron oxide dissolution
is important but adsorption of As(III) to phyllosilicates is also a
component of arsenic cycling in the sediments. Bangladesh is
underlain by the Bengal delta, which formed by deposition of
sediments from the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna Rivers. The
sediment is mainly sand and silt from the Himalayan highlands. The
delta has a monsoonal climate, with alternating wet and dry
seasons. The sedimentation rate is rapid, approximately 0.2 cm yr-
1.


=================================================================
NEW & NEWLY DISCOVERED WEB SITES & WEB PAGES
UPDATED WEBSITES & WEB PAGES

-----------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.magctech.com/index.html

MAGC Technologies – Arsenic Removal

MAGC Technologies Limited was formed in early 2000 and is a
privately and closely held corporation. MAGC's management team
has been involved in the severe crises of arsenic and fluoride
contamination in the drinking water supplies of India and
Bangladesh since the virtual recognition of these crises. MAGC
Technologies has been working with local governments, NGOs, the
donor community and private sector entities to make the
technology available to the widest possible area in the shortest
possible time.

They recognized activated alumina to be the material of choice,
not only due to its superior adsorption capability, but also
because of the non-leachability feature of the spent media. This
led to the formation of a cooperative relationship with Alcan
Chemicals Division of Alcan Inc. in solving the problems in India
and Bangladesh.

Alcan is the second largest aluminium producer in the world, with
an annual turnover of over US$13 billion. Alcan provided MAGC
with:

A specially developed, proprietary, commercially available,
arsenic adsorbent, which is based on activated alumina and known
as enhanced activated alumina AA FS-50. This enhanced activated
alumina product is certified by the NSF (National Sanitation
Foundation);

A product that meets the United States Environmental Protection
Agency (US EPA) Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP)
criteria;

An ongoing commitment to research and development;

The production capability for timely supply of mass quantities of
material;

The financial resources and commitment to build new production
facilities as and when needed.


-----------------------------------------------------------------
Webpages on arsenic-related activities at ICDDR,B Center for
Health and Population Research, Dhaka:

1. Arsenic in tubewell water and health consequences: Studies
in Matlab http://www.icddrb.org/activity/index.jsp?
activityObjectID=141

2. AsMat New Project for Arsenic Research in Matlab
http://203.190.254.12/pub/publication.jsp?classificationID=3&pubI
D=2120

3. Quality Assurance for Arsenic Measurements
http://203.190.254.12/pub/publication.jsp?classificationID=3&pubI
D=2121


-----------------------------------------------------------------
EngConsult's Archive Of Arsenic-Related News Articles 1996-2002

At http://www.eng-consult.com/arsenic/news.htm .


=================================================================
NEW & NEWLY DISCOVERED REAL WORLD STUFF

Offline-only print publications & newsletters, videos, research
in progress, test kits, removal technologies, etc.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.dekker.com/servlet/product/productid/0676-5
[description & ordering information]

Book: Environmental Chemistry of Arsenic

Edited by: William T. Frankenberger. Print Published:
12/01/2001. Hard Cover. 410 pages. Illustrated. Print ISBN: 0-
8247-0676-5. Description: Highlights new developments in the
transport kinetics, seasonal cycling, accumulation, geochemistry,
transformation, and toxicology of arsenic.

Table of Contents:

Arsenic Poisoning Through the Ages - Jerome O. Nriagu

Analytical Methods for the Determination of Arsenic and Arsenic
Compounds in the Environment - Walter Goessler and Doris Kuehnelt

Arsenic Compounds in the Environment - Kevin A. Francesconi and
Doris Kuehnelt

Arsenic Speciation in the Environment and Humans - X. Chris Le

Bioavailability and Risk of Arsenic Exposure by the Soil
Ingestion Pathway - Nicholas T. Basta, Robin R. Rodriguez, and
Stan W. Casteel

Aspects of Arsenic Chemistry in Relation to Occurrence, Health,
and Treatment - Laurie S. McNeill, Hsiao-wen Chen, and Marc
Edwards

Biogeochemical Controls on Arsenic Occurrence and Mobility in
Water Supplies - Janet G. Hering and Penelope E. Kneebone

Arsenic (V)/(III) Cycling in Soils and Natural Waters: Chemical
and Microbiological Processes - William P. Inskeep, Timothy R.
McDermott, and Scott Fendorf

Metal-Oxide Adsorption, Ion Exchange, and Coagulation-
Microfiltration for Arsenic Removal from Water - Dennis A.
Clifford and Ganesh L. Ghurye

Arsenic Metabolism: Resistance, Reduction, and Oxidation - Simon
Silver, Le T. Phung, and Barry P. Rosen

Bacterial Respiration of Arsenate and Its Significance in the
Environment - Ronald S. Oremland, Dianne K. Newman, Brian W.
Kail, and John F. Stolz

Unique Modes of Arsenate Respiration by Chrysiogenes arsenatis
and Desulfomicrobium sp. str. Ben-RB - Joan M. Macy and Joanne M.
Santini

Bacterial Oxidation of As(III) Compounds - Henry L. Ehrlich

Characteristics of Newly Discovered Arsenite-Oxidizing Bacteria -
Joanne M. Santini, Rachel N. vanden Hoven, and Joan M. Macy

Oxidation of Arsenite by Alcaligenes faecalis - Gretchen L.
Anderson, Paul J. Ellis, Peter Kuhn, and Russ Hille

Volatilization of Arsenic - William T. Frankenberger, Jr., and
Muhammad Arshad


=================================================================
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