A global health problem caused by arsenic from natural sources.
Arsenic is a carcinogen to both humans and animals. Arsenicals have been associated with cancers of the skin, lung, and bladder. Clinical manifestations of chronic arsenic poisoning include non-cancer end point of hyper- and hypo-pigmentation, keratosis, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. Epidemiological evidence indicates that arsenic concentration exceeding 50 microg l(-1) in the drinking water is not public health protective. The current WHO recommended guideline value for arsenic in drinking water is 10 microg l(-1), whereas many developing countries are still having a value of 50 microg l(-1). It has been estimated that tens of millions of people are at risk exposing to excessive levels of arsenic from both contaminated water and arsenic-bearing coal from natural sources. The global health implication and possible intervention strategies were also discussed in this review article.
Ng
Jack C
JC
National Research Centre for Environmental Toxicology, The University of Queensland, 39 Kessels Road, Coopers Plains, Brisbane, Queensland 4108, Australia. j.ng@mailbox.uq.edu.au
Wang
Jianping
J
Shraim
Amjad
A
D001151:Arsenic / Q000652:urine; D020261:Arsenic Poisoning; D002274:Carcinogens, Environmental / Q000506:poisoning; D003031:Coal / Q000032:analysis / Q000506:poisoning; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis; D004782:Environmental Health; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000506:poisoning
D002274:Carcinogens, Environmental; D003031:Coal; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D001151:Arsenic