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  OTHER ARSENIC RELATED ACTIVITIES OUTSIDE WEST BENGAL

                                                            

WEST BENGAL ARSENIC

INFORMATION NETWORK

In South East Asia, Bangladesh and India (West Bengal) are the most arsenic affected countries. Groundwater arsenic contamination and skin manifestation culminating from arsenic was first detected in West Bengal within this subcontinent. Unlike many other countries basic source of arsenic in West Bengal is geological but over extraction of ground water for economic activities has enhanced the problem for last few decades. Arsenic levels in drinking water is the major cause of arsenic toxicity in the world. Chronic arsenic toxicity produces protean clinical manifestations e.g. spotty pigmentation of skin of the body, keratosis of palms and soles, chronic lung disease, liver fibrosis, peripheral vascular disease, peripheral neuritis and cancer of skin, lung, bladder and liver.

                                                                                                                                                                                           

Acute toxicity of arsenic, a ubiquitous mineral in water occur through all the mediums such as air , food & water,etc. Studies made so far depicts that Arsenic levels in drinking water is the major cause of arsenic toxicity in the world. Reports of such contamination are available from Taiwan, Chile, Argentina, Mexico, India, Hong Kong, Hungary, Philippine, Bangladesh, USA and Thailand. Drinking water may get contaminated with arsenic from arsenical pesticides, natural mineral deposits or improperly disposed arsenical chemicals 

Whatever be the reason behind arsenic exposure, the arsenic led  diseases are unavoidable consequences from continuous arsenic ingestation to human health- starting from primary skin manifestations to internal fatal diseases i.e cancer. Epidemiological studies in West  Germany, Argentina, Chile  and Taiwan indicates a positive association between arsenic content of  drinking water and the prevalence of skin cancer. Groundwater arsenic contamination and skin manifestation

Malda

Murshidabad

Nadia

Burdwan

South 24 Paraganas                             go to top

North 24 Paraganas

Howrah

Hugly 

Basic source of arsenic in West Bengal is geological as the higher arsenic incidence in groundwater is restricted within the higher delta plain of Bengal basin. However over extraction of ground water for irrigation and switching of water use pattern from surface water to ground water has enhanced the problem for last few decades. With the existing problem of providing sufficient and quality water supply the high arsenic concentration adds new dimension to the problem in West Bengal.
Multi-disciplinary approach involving environmental scientists, chemists, geologist and geo hydrologist, engineers, medical practitioners, economists and other social scientists, is needed to understand the cost and  benefit for the eradication of the problem. 

 

  PHOTO GALLERY

#1

 

Sulata Halder, age 38 years, of Kamdebkthi Village, died on 27th of March 2001

Source: Aikya Sammelani Youth Club, Simulpur, 2001

#2

 

Keratosis of the sole

A resident of South 24Parganas
 

Keratosis of the palm

 A-resident of South 24Parganas

#3

Source:Dr. Allan Smith, July ,2001

 

 

  ABOUT US

The effects of arsenic is a serious problem in the state of West Bengal, India. Various academic, non-government, government organizations, medical institutes and laboratories are actively involved in understanding and alleviating the arsenic problem through their efforts. There is need for maintaining a network that would help the researchers, planners and others to obtain information on the extent of work that has been done on various issues of the arsenic crisis in West Bengal. This is an appeal to all, whoever is  working on the West Bengal arsenic problem, or even belong to an organization doing so, to kindly join us and make our humble effort a  success. If any of the visitors  have any knowledge of people, organizations etc. working in this field kindly pass on the message about this site. 

 

LINKS: Arsenic Related Activities outside West Bengal     top of page

http://www.projectwellusa.org

http://http://socrates.berkeley.edu/%7Easrg/index.html

http://iweb.tntech.edu/elmorgan/706_601/EVS601_As_India_S01.htmhttp://bicn.com/acic/ http://www.coloradocollege.edu/dept/gy/faculty/wphillips/JJ1.htm http://iweb.tntech.edu/elmorgan/706_601/EVS601_As_India_S01.htm

http://www.asia-arsenic.net/index-e.htm

http://phys4.harvard.edu/~wilson/arsenic

JOIN US

This is an appeal to all, whoever is  working on the West Bengal arsenic problem, or even belong to an organization doing so, please join us and make our humble effort a  success. If any of the visitors  have any knowledge of people, Organizations etc. working in this field kindly pass about this site. If there are any gaps in the information provided about other Organizations, please feel free to notify us at wbainet@yahoo.com

 

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Website Design:  Rima Ganguly                          Research Assistant  : Ananya Nandy
     All rights reserved.
    Revised: January 08, 2003 17:34 .   

SITE UPDATE HISTORY:  
DATES DESCRIPTION
SEP 10,2001 Launching of website (under construction)
SEP 20, 2001. SITE UPDATE ,2 nos. (#2,#3)photographs added from Source: Dr. Allan Smith, July, 2001.