Arsenic in water Flashcards
how much of arsenic can cause death
<1g in a matter of hours
what was arsenic used before
- by assassins because no smell or taste
Napolean Bonaparte and arsenic
Hair analysis showed maybe arsenic poisoning
WHO guidelines amount in water
10 ppb
high in Thailand and south africa
What is arsenic used in now
- insecticides, weedkillers, preservatives
- wallpapers
- used in electronics
arsenic levels near mining activities
100-1000 times higher than average
Arsenic in shallow groundwater incident, where was it?
Vietnam, Cambodia, Bangladesh and India
what happened in incident
-rural Bangladesh people changed water supply from rivers to groundwater to avoid pathogens. Even more arsenic in groundwater
what are symptoms of prolonged exposure
-skin lesions
- lung cancer
-heart disease
how many people were exposed to arsenic in bangladesh
- 20 million exposed, 300,000 currently have
what do social entrepreneurs mean
a person who established an enterprise with the aim of solving social problems or effecting social change
How is drinkwell helping the people of rural Bangladesh
- built 30 water treatment facilities
- removed arsenic and bacteria
- electricity not needed to run it
why is there so much arsenic in groundwater bangladesh
- not from mining
- occurs naturally in host rocks of aquifers
why is arsenic being mobilized
- oxidation of arsenic-rich minerals from drawdown of water at well sites
- input of phosphate from irrigated fields and competitive absorption
- microbial dissolution of arsenic-rich minerals
which California town’s water is tainted with arsenic
Kettleman city
