Arsenic poisoning in Ganga-Brahmaputra plain

Arsenic is the 20th most abundant in the element in the earth crust,a group 15 element.Found as a component of more than 245 elements.mainly sulphide containing ores as well as other metals.Exposure to this toxic metalloid has been known to result in hazardous health outcomes including cancer.Arsenic toxicity,from usage of underground water,has been reported from different parts of the world spanning more than 21 countries.Arsenic enters into the water system by weathering of rocks,minerals where conversion of arsenic containing sulfide ores undergo redox reaction,small particles or by in form of solute by dissolution by water,which in turn enter into the drinking water source which poses a major health threat to the population around the world.Humans are exposed to the this deadly alkaloid through air,water and water.Sources are natural anthropogenic sources,industrial effluents and mining.Arsenic contamination caused by mining activities in Canada,Germany,Ghana, Greece,Mexico,South Africa,Thailand,UK,USA and Zimbabwe.Arsenic enters into the body and stays as monomethylarsonicacid,arsenobetaine(AsB),arsenite(As[III]),arsenate,methylarsenicacid,dimethylarsenic acid .Arsenic acts as carcinogen which acts through inhibition of DNA repair mechanism.Arsenic toxicity is fatal,epidermis,respiratory,pulmonary,cardiovascular,gastrointestinal,hematological,hepatic,renal,neurological,developmental,reproductive,and carcinogenic effect.Arsneic toxicity problem exist in developed as well as developing country.It is prevalent in North as well as South America,Europe,Australia,Asia,mostly the countries in South East Asia are the worst affected region and most notably is the Ganga-Brahmaputra basin region where million of people are getting affected.According to WHO population residing in the arsenic contaminated area are exposed more than 50 μgm/litre of arsenic which is beyond the safety limit of 10 μgm/litre.Bioaccumulation and biotransformation of arsenic in the food chain,and trophic transfer of arsenic in marine and freshwater food chains have been important concerns for human health,as many countries in the world rely on the marine source as one their source of food.The issue of arsenic contamination must be deal with utmost emergency as it will pose short as well as long term risk,which must be assessed and solution must be created to prevent human from severe health impacts.