Effect of drinking arsenic contaminated water in children

Abstract

Objective: Chronic arsenic toxicity due to drinking of arsenic contaminated water is a major environmental health hazard throughout the world including India. Though lot of information is available on health effects due to chronic arsenic toxicity in adults, knowledge of such effect on children is scanty. A review of available literature has been made to highlight the problem in children.

Review methods: Scientific publication in journals, monograph, thesis and proceedings of conferences on arsenic in regard to epidemiological, clinical and psychometric studies were reviewed.

Results: Skin abnormalities including pigmentation change and keratosis are the diagnostic signs of chronic arsenic toxicity in adults. Incidence of skin manifestations vary between 1.9-37.1% in various arsenic exposed children populations in different regions of the world. Occurrence of chronic lung disease including pulmonary interstitial fibrosis was described in arsenic exposed children in Chile. Affection of intellectual function is also reported from Thailand, Bangladesh and India.

Conclusion: Chronic arsenic toxicity due to drinking of arsenic contaminated water causes significant morbidity in children in different parts of the world.