Context:
A new study underlines the risk of using water contaminated with arsenic to cook rice, a staple food serving more than half the world’s population.
Relevance:
Facts for Prelims
About Arsenic: An Overview
- Origin: Arsenic is a naturally occurring semimetallic element found in the Earth’s crust.
- Environmental Presence: It can be found in various environmental sources including air, water, and land.
- Chemical Classification: Arsenic belongs to Group 15 of the periodic table, also known as the nitrogen group. It is found in both gray and yellow crystalline forms.
Toxicity:
- Toxic Form: In its inorganic form, arsenic is highly toxic.
- Exposure Sources: Elevated levels of inorganic arsenic exposure can occur through:
- Drinking contaminated water.
- Using contaminated water for food preparation and irrigation.
- Industrial processes.
- Consumption of contaminated food.
- Smoking tobacco.
Health Implications:
- Chronic Exposure: Long-term exposure to inorganic arsenic, primarily via drinking water and food, can result in chronic arsenic poisoning.
- Symptoms: Skin lesions and skin cancer are among the most commonly observed health effects of arsenic poisoning.
Arsenic Contamination in India:
- Affected States:
- West Bengal
- Jharkhand
- Bihar
- Uttar Pradesh
- Assam
- Manipur
- Chhattisgarh
- Concern: These states report arsenic contamination levels in groundwater that exceed permissible limits, posing significant health risks to the population.
-Source: The Hindu
