Arsenic Exposure and Its Impact on Health in Chile
Issue Date:
23-Feb-2007
Publisher:
icddr,b
Description:
The problem of arsenic in Chile was reviewed. In Chile, the population
is exposed to arsenic naturally via drinking-water and by air pollution
resulted from mining activities. The sources of arsenic were
iden-tified to estimate the exposure of population to arsenic through
air, water, and food. Health effects, particularly early effects,
observed in children and adults, such as vascular diseases (premature
cardiac infarct), respiratory illnesses (bronchiectasis), and skin
lesions have been described. Chronic effects, such as lung and bladder
cancers, were reported 20 years after peak exposure and persisted 27
years after mitigation measures for removing arsenic from drinking
surface water were initiated. Although the effects of arsenic are
similar in different ethnic and cultural groups (e.g. Japanese,
Chinese, Indian, Bangladeshi, American, and Taiwanese), variations
could be explained by age at exposure, the dose received, smoking, and
nutrition. Since health effects were observed at arsenic levels of 50
μg/L in drinking-water, it is advised that Chile follows the World
Health Organization's recommendation of 10 μg/L. The Chilean
experience in removal of arsenic suggests that it is feasible to reach
this level using the conventional coagulation process.
Content Type:
Article
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