[Geographic information system based spatial analysis on chronic arsenic poisoning in a tin mining area, Thailand].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the spatial features of arsenic contamination and its association with chronic arsenic poisoning in a tin mining area of Thailand.


METHODS
Geographic information system(GIS) was built up with integration of arsenic concentration in varied environmental media and occurring location data of chronic arsenism patients. Then, the spatial interpolation (IDW), buffer zoning, query and rank correlation analysis were applied.


RESULTS
Groundwater and surface farming land were classified according to local environmental arsenic standards; the relative risk areas were identified. The incidence of chronic arsenic poisoning was significantly correlated with arsenic level in groundwater and soil type (P < 0.05), and insignificantly related with water soluble arsenic in soil (P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The arsenic content in drinking water could be critical to chronic arsenic poisoning. The soil type could be an important factor affecting such poisoning. Trend analysis in GIS could provide a valuable tool for understanding the pollution situation and disease surveillance.
Zhang
Jianjun
J
Department of Preventive Medicine, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515031, China. zhangjj@stu.edu.cn
Wu
Liping
L
Lin
Kun
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020261:Arsenic Poisoning / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D040362:Geographic Information Systems; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008906:Mining; D015995:Prevalence; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology; D014001:Tin; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D055815:Young Adult
D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D014001:Tin