Groundwater Arsenic-Attributable Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) Mortality Risks in India

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) have been recognized as the most serious non-carcinogenic detrimental health outcome arising from chronic exposure to arsenic. Drinking arsenic contaminated groundwaters is a critical and common exposure pathway for arsenic, notably in India and other countries in the circum-Himalayan region. Notwithstanding this, there has hitherto been a dearth of data on the likely impacts of this exposure on CVD in India. In this study, CVD mortality risks arising from drinking groundwater with high arsenic (>10 μg/L) in India and its constituent states, territories, and districts were quantified using the population-attributable fraction (PAF) approach. Using a novel pseudo-contouring approach, we estimate that between 58 and 64 million people are exposed to arsenic exceeding 10 μg/L in groundwater-derived drinking water in India. On an all-India basis, we estimate that 0.3–0.6% of CVD mortality is attributable to exposure to high arsenic groundwaters, corresponding to annual avoidable premature CVD-related deaths attributable to chronic exposure to groundwater arsenic in India of between around 6500 and 13,000. Based on the reported reduction in life of 12 to 28 years per death due to heart disease, we calculate value of statistical life (VSL) based annual costs to India of arsenic-attributable CVD mortality of between USD 750 million and USD 3400 million.

Spatial Distribution of Arsenic in the Aksu River Basin, Xinjiang, China: The Cumulative Frequency Curve and Geostatistical Analysis

“…In such climates, the (HCO 3 − + CO 3 2− )/SO 4 2− ratio increases with increasing groundwater reducibility, making it an indicator of the groundwater redox state. Based on changes in the slope variation in the cumulative frequency curve for the (HCO 3 − + CO 3 2− )/SO 4 2− ratio, the study area was divided into five zones: 1 ⃝ (0-0.57), 2 ⃝ (0.57-1.13), 3 ⃝ (1.13-1.70), 4 ⃝ (1.70-2.83) and 5 ⃝ (>2.83) (Figure 3a). Zone 1 ⃝ is mainly distributed in the areas of the Duolanghu Reservoir and Xinjingzi Reservoir.…”

“…Zones 2 ⃝ and 3 ⃝ have the widest distribution area, with 2 ⃝ mainly being mainly the area where the Aksu River, Yarkant River, and Hotan River converge with the Tarim River, and Zone 3 ⃝ mainly being mainly distributed downstream of the Kumala River and Taushgan Darya, extending to Aksu City. Zones 4 ⃝ and 5 ⃝ are mainly distributed in parts of Aksu City and Onsu County near the Aksu River basin (Figure 4a). The majority of groundwater samples in the study area exhibited (HCO 3…”

“…Zone 2 ⃝ (3.80-7.60) has a narrower distribution range and is mainly distributed in the periphery of Zone. Zones 3 ⃝ (7.60-11.4) and 4 ⃝ (>11.4) have the widest distribution area, including the upper reaches of the Kumala River basin, the lower reaches of the Taushgan Darya, the upper reaches of the Tailan River, and parts of the Yarkant and Tarim River basins in China (Figure 4c).…”

“…Arsenic, a prevalent and harmful element found in groundwater, enters the human body through drinking water and food, posing significant health risks. Long-term consumption of arsenic-contaminated water and the consumption of fruits and vegetables irrigated with such water can lead to irreversible health effects [3,4]. The most common condition resulting from prolonged exposure is chronic arsenic poisoning.…”

Sustainable ceramic membrane for decontamination of water: A cost-effective approach

“…Various developing and undeveloped countries are going with the problem of impure drinking water and facing many water borne diseases. Impure water causes various critical diseases which might not be noticed immediately but long-term exposure has been led to cardiovascular and other diseases [ 1 , 2 ]. A sustainable and cost-effective supply of clean drinking water is one of the major needs of living beings.…”