Arsenic is a chemical element with symbol As and atomic
number 33. Arsenic occurs in many minerals, usually in combination
with sulfur and metals, but also as a pure elemental crystal. Arsenic
is a metalloid. It has various allotropes, but only the gray form
is important to industry.
The primary use of metallic arsenic is in alloys
of lead (for example, in car batteries and ammunition). Arsenic
is a common n-type dopant in semiconductor electronic devices, and
the optoelectronic compound gallium arsenide is the second most
commonly used semiconductor after doped silicon. Arsenic and its
compounds, especially the trioxide, are used in the production of
pesticides, treated wood products, herbicides, and insecticides.
These applications are declining, however.
Source
Arsenic is an element widely distributed in earth’s
crust, and in groundwater in many countries. Long-term intake of
arsenic contaminated water leads to arsenic poisoning or arsenicosis,
with cancer of skin, bladder, kidney or lung or diseases of skin
(colour changes, and hard patches on palms and soles), or blood
vessels of legs and feet. Fresh evidence indicates possible association
between intake of contaminated water to onset of diabetes, hypertension
and reproductive disorders.
In India, the states of West Bengal, Jharkhand,
Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Manipur and Chhattisgarh are reported
to be most affected by arsenic contamination of groundwater above
the permissible level. WHO’s provisional guideline value for arsenic
in drinking water - 0.01 mg/l (10 μg/l) (Source: Guidelines for
drinking water quality, 4th edition, WHO, 2011). Permissible limit
of arsenic in India in absence of an alternative source - 0.05 mg/l
(50 μg/l). (Source: Indian Standards for Drinking Water, second
revision of IS 10500, 2004).
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Interviews
We plan to do einterviews with MBBS doctors to understand 4 things
1) Tests or questions you ask in first few meetings
2) What it means in medical terms
3) What it means in non medical terms
4) What should the patient or care takers do
We might interview Aurvedic doctors, homeopathic doctors, Yoga teachers
on this health issue |