Combating the Menace of Arsenic Poisoning

Arsenic is a well-known chemical element found widely in nature. Arsenic is sometimes found in drinking water. The element is harmful to the human body and over-exposure to it results in significant health hazards. This article aims to create a basic awareness about arsenic poisoning and ways to safeguard our health from its ill effects.

Arsenic can be found in traces in all living matter. However, the hazardous exposure to arsenic results from our daily drinking water, food and air. Arsenic makes its way into the environment through a number of ways - the burning of coal or other organic fuels; metal production; pesticide usage, and burning of waste materials.

Arsenic Testing

Arsenic is a colorless, tasteless, and odorless element. It is impossible to detect arsenic while drinking water. It is always safe to have your water tested through a genuine authority, say, the regional public health office. Arsenic testing requires specialized equipments. Urine testing is required to confirm recent exposure to arsenic.

Health Hazards

Arsenic enters the body through the water you drink. It then spreads through the bloodstream. The highest concentration of arsenic is found in nails and hair. The body gets rid of arsenic mostly through urine. Small amounts of the element are also eliminated through sweat, hair, and nails. Research has established that high exposure to arsenic over a considerably long time can increase the risk of having cancer, especially, cancers of bladder, liver, and the lungs.

Besides life-threatening cancer, long-time exposure to arsenic also causes disorders such as- discoloration of skin, nausea, diarrhea, irregular heartbeats and other damages to the circulatory system.

In the short-term, arsenic poisoning causes abdominal pain, vomiting, skin rash, numbness, and sensory problems. Children and pregnant women are especially in the higher risk bracket.

Protection from Arsenic

As arsenic is carcinogenic to the body, we should leave no stones unturned to ensure protection of public health. To begin with, if you live in a locality that is known for concentration of arsenic in drinking water, have a sample of your drinking water tasted thoroughly. If your drinking water source contains excessive levels of arsenic, try to look for an alternative source. If possible, try to connect the water distribution system of your home with the public distribution system.

Another method of combating arsenic poisoning is to invest in a home-water-treatment device. Be careful to ensure that the device you buy bears the stamp of approval of accredited certification authorities meeting the NSF and American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standards. These standardization bodies have laid down stringent arsenic detection norms designed to safeguard drinking water from arsenic contamination. These kinds of standardization helps to ensure safety of materials that are exposed to your drinking water. Before usage, do not forget to read the manufacturer’s instruction carefully. These home treatment devices need careful maintenance as they constantly come in contact the contaminants in your drinking water. Follow thoroughly the maintenance procedure elaborated in the manufacturer’s manual.

If you experience any of the symptoms of arsenic poisoning as mentioned earlier, contact your doctor immediately.