Fluoride and Arsenic in Drinking Water
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Produced by Myriad Editions Fluorosis Fluoride and Arsenic 2004 or latest available data World Health Organization in Drinking Water cases of dental or skeletal fluorosis reported In Kachariadih village, India, a group of no data children with limbs twisted out of shape hobble forward with the help of walking sticks. They grin with embarrassment because they cannot run like other CANADA NORWAY children their age — fluoride poisoning has crippled their limbs. GERMANY illions of children are U S A JAPAN M exposed to excessive SPAIN amounts of fluoride through CHINA ISRAEL drinking water contaminated from PAKISTAN natural geological sources. In MEXICO There are 2 million cases China, the burning of fluoride- SAUDI ARABIA INDIA of skeletal fluorosis in China. rich coal adds to the problem. SENEGAL NIGER ERITREA THAILAND SUDAN Small amounts of fluoride are NIGERIA good for teeth; it is added to ETHIOPIA SRI LANKA UGANDA toothpaste and, in some countries, KENYA to drinking water. At higher UNITED REP. “The dose makes the poison.” TANZANIA doses, it destroys teeth and Paracelsus, physician BRAZIL accumulates in bones, leading to (1493–1541) crippling skeletal damage. With their bodies still growing, children SOUTH are most at risk. AFRICA Like fluoride, arsenic is widely distributed throughout the earth's NEW ZEALAND crust, and is present in almost all waters in very small amounts. In Some estimates suggest certain areas, however, there are arsenic in drinking water dangerous levels of this toxin in Arsenicosis will cause 200 000 to children’s drinking water. The 270 000 deaths 2004 or latest available data from cancer in most tragic example is Bangladesh alone. Bangladesh, where thousands of wells are causing a mass poisoning elevated levels of arsenic (over 50 µg/l) reported in water of the population. Unsafe wells ill-health has been reported due to arsenic-contaminated water Arsenic poisoning in Bangladesh are marked with red paint, Sylhet BANGLADESH Percentage of boreholes tested warning people that this water is Hawabganj Rajshashi where arsenic levels are Moulvibazar not for drinking. Natore Habiganj above 50 micrograms per litre (µg/l) 1999 CANADA FINLAND Pabna The WHO provisional guideline value for arsenic Health effects Kushtia Dhaka Meherpur Manikganj µ Brahmanbaria in drinking water is set at 10 g/l U S A Rajbari Dhaka Fluorosis Chuadanga Narayanganj HUNGARY ROMANIA Faridpur Munshiganj Cornilla 75% and over • Tooth discoloration and decay CHINA Magura PAKISTAN NEPAL Jhenaidah • Crippling skeletal damage Shariatpur MEXICO INDIA Chandpur MYANMAR Madaripur 50% – 74% VIET NAM Jessore Narail Gopalganj CAMBODIA Arsenicosis BANGLADESH Lakshmipur Feni 25% – 49% Barisal THAILAND Noakhali • Skin pigmentation changes and skin Pirojpur thickening (hyperkeratosis) Khulna Jhalakati under 25% Satkhira Bagerhat • Cancer of the skin, lungs, bladder PERU Chittagong no data and kidney BOLIVIA CHILE ARGENTINA Cox’s Bazar http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/en/ Adapted from Inheriting the World: The Atlas of Children's Health and the Environment © WHO 2004.