Arsenic in the Water
Major Ideas, Concepts and Key Points:
Summary:
Arsenic has proved to be fatal once ingested; researchers found that it contaminated water. This issue is found in many countries even the U.S.; however it is rampant in the developing countries due effectively killing millions of people annually. It has a high connection with the cause of cancer also adds to the fatalities. Also some sin do not occur until after a decade of ingesting arsenic poisoned water. Side effects can rang from bronchitis to skin damage and severe diarrhea. Bangladesh is a country that suffers greatly from arsenic poisoning due to the water and food contamination. Arsenic is found in their rice due to the water used to grow said crop. Due wing concern, the government announced that approximately 50 micro grams per liter of water is considered dangerous, yet at least 30% of their water supply today is contaminated with this amount of arsenic or more. Still this issue is present today, and researchers are still trying find a solution to an issue that kills millions. A big issue being lack of funding or money to allow filters for the water, however looking for a more permanent solution prove to be difficult.
Reflection:
A natural occurring disaster on my head often mean an earthquake, a tsunami, or even a forest fire. However reading this article opened my eyes; arsenic is a natural occurring mineral and so is water; yet one is a necessity and the other a poison. Once these two are combined and ingested, it causes death that dot discriminate. Many children have died drinking water; how scary is the world when the very life source of a person is also their demise? This time it isn't man made or caused by humans, it is one that mother nature produces; it poses serious threat and scientists seems powerless and at a los for permanent solutions. It seems money and wealth can only go so far. Arsenic poisoning is a silent killer, one isn't always aware of the poison that is slowly taking their life.
- Arsenic has been found in drinking water and could possibly poison millions of people across the globe; there are however researchers that are finding a solution.
- Bangladesh is a country that is seeking for a solution; in the late 1900's their government undertook projects to better the water quality.
- The problem got so bad that several people die from contaminated water, many children died from this as well.
- Environmentalists found that aquifers from the western region of Bengal contained high levels of Arsenic which contaminated the drinking water.
- Finally by 1990's the country's drinking water supply was cleaned and about 95% of Bangladesh had access to cleaner water.
- Arsenic in the water caused several issues ranging from diarrhea to skin problems; Kshitish C. Saha found that arsenic poisoning from the water caused the skin damage.
- Out of the millions of tubewells that supply the population of water; approximately 40% contain more than 50 micrograms of arsenic per liter of water.
- Another potentially dangerous source of Arsenic in Bangladesh is their grain; they eat this 2-3 times daily and it is also contaminated due to the water that is used to grow the crop.
- Arsenic in the water supply of communities occur in several different countries, such as India, Nepal, China, Argentina, Mexico, Chile, and the U.S.
- Melanosis is a sign of arsenic poisoning which are skin damage that appear as black spots on the upper chest and the back of the arms. High concentration of arsenic poisoning can lead to bronchitis. There are cases that is so severe that it causes cancer in major organs such as kidneys.
Summary:
Arsenic has proved to be fatal once ingested; researchers found that it contaminated water. This issue is found in many countries even the U.S.; however it is rampant in the developing countries due effectively killing millions of people annually. It has a high connection with the cause of cancer also adds to the fatalities. Also some sin do not occur until after a decade of ingesting arsenic poisoned water. Side effects can rang from bronchitis to skin damage and severe diarrhea. Bangladesh is a country that suffers greatly from arsenic poisoning due to the water and food contamination. Arsenic is found in their rice due to the water used to grow said crop. Due wing concern, the government announced that approximately 50 micro grams per liter of water is considered dangerous, yet at least 30% of their water supply today is contaminated with this amount of arsenic or more. Still this issue is present today, and researchers are still trying find a solution to an issue that kills millions. A big issue being lack of funding or money to allow filters for the water, however looking for a more permanent solution prove to be difficult.
Reflection:
A natural occurring disaster on my head often mean an earthquake, a tsunami, or even a forest fire. However reading this article opened my eyes; arsenic is a natural occurring mineral and so is water; yet one is a necessity and the other a poison. Once these two are combined and ingested, it causes death that dot discriminate. Many children have died drinking water; how scary is the world when the very life source of a person is also their demise? This time it isn't man made or caused by humans, it is one that mother nature produces; it poses serious threat and scientists seems powerless and at a los for permanent solutions. It seems money and wealth can only go so far. Arsenic poisoning is a silent killer, one isn't always aware of the poison that is slowly taking their life.