Arsenic - A Daily Dose of Death

Water is called life. Life comes to an end without water. But the water contaminated Arsenic becomes a killer, hangman of mankind. West Bengal is a state of Arsenic attacked India. Nine

districts of this state –Malda, Murshidabad, Nadia, North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, Howrah, Burdwan, Hooghly, Calcutta, the state capital, have also been identified as
arsenic-inflicted districts. More than fifteen lakhs of people have to take arsenic-polluted water everyday. Many men died, many counting their days towards death.

Effect of Arsenic is more in Malda and Murshidabad. Number of people of arsenic-attacked districts in West Bengal is 3 crores and 80 lakhs. 45 lakhs of people drinks arsenic-water. 3 lakhs of them suffer from skin deformation. Arsenic –water is stored in agricultural land every year. Weaker section of the society is affected more. 78% people are ignorant of arsenic-pollution. Skin-deformation is a skin disease to them.

Not only West Bengal, there are several states in India are affected due to arsenic, like Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and others states which are situated beside holy river Ganges, most of them are suffering due to arsenic.. Except India, Bangladesh is also badly affected due to arsenic. These places can be covered with the support of this prestigious grant.

Skin disease due to arsenic, expresses symptoms slowly, not suddenly. Melanosis diffuse and spotted, Keratosis-spotted and diffuse Keratosis, conjunctiva congestion etc informs use the appearance of arsenicosis. Complication are Asthmatic bronchitis, Hepatomegaly, weakness and anemia,musclepia,Huskyvoice etc. Effect of poison of arsenic is dangerous in human body. 125mg arsenic is the fatal dose.” Nepolion” was killed applying arsenic.

West is the first state in the world relating to extensity and severity of arsenic problem? No Proper medicine is available at present to prevent permanent toxic action of arsenic. So most important task is tom take some precautions immediately. Tube-well water must be tested. Don’t drink, don’t use water in cooking purpose is here quantity of arsenic is more than 0.01 mg.

Always use water of wells, ponds, canals and rivers after purifying. Vegetables before cooking is to be washed properly. Consume sour fruits (lemon, pommel etc) carrot, vegetables, jackfruit seeds, Soya bin, fish, meat etc. Avoid underground-water and use surface-water. Arsenic is an enemy of human society. So we must try to defeat it without any compromise. Though medicines for permanent protection are not available, we cannot stand still helplessly. We must detect it and should take preventive measures, with a view to curative purpose. This is
very hard task. No social organization, no individual person alone can do this job. The government must play Main role. We must use nature and at the same time we must fight, where necessary.