(Photo : Workworks in China)

Arsenic is an inorganic contaminant commonly present in drinking water worldwide. As a result of changes in the weather, this metalloid dissolves in groundwater occurs naturally as components of sediments.

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Odorless and tasteless, the inorganic salts of arsenic are highly toxic to humans especially if ingested for a long time. It can damage major organs in our body and cause different types of cancer.

According to Science Codex, concentration less than 10 micrograms/liter is considered safe and is therefore suggested by the World Health Organization as the baseline value for arsenic in drinking water.

The population affected has increases yearly. In the latest survey carried out in 2001 to 2005 by the Chinese Ministry of Health showed that five percent or more than 20,000 out of the 445,000 wells tested showed greater than 50 microgram/liter of arsenic concentrations.

Official estimates state that roughly 6 million people drink up arsenic-tainted water with that concentration and almost 15 million are exposed to arsenic-tainted water with concentration more than 10 micrograms/liter.

Considering the complete size of China and the span of time and outlay involved in testing for arsenic contamination, possibly, in a few more years, screening all of the millions of groundwater wells will be necessary.

 For that main reason, a team of researchers from the China Medical University in Shenyang and Eawag put together a statistical risk model making use of on hand information on geology, topographic features and soil characteristics.

The said statistical risk model was attuned using obtainable arsenic measurements. The predictions of safe and unsafe areas illustrated a high level of similarity, both for known high-risk areas and for areas where elevated arsenic levels had been ruled out by testing campaigns.

In accumulated area of 580,000 square kilometers, arsenic concentration greater than 10 micrograms/liter has been predicted. If combined with the most recent handy population information, it revealed that roughly 20,000 people all over China resides in places with highly arsenic-tainted areas.

The figures might be exaggerated but that is not the case. The problem is how to feed millions of people information that can save them from getting sick. That is what the Chinese Ministry of Health should be planning about now.