Pranjal Tamuli1, Amarjit Borgohain2, Bishnu Ram Das3, Krishna Talukdar4
BACKGROUND
Human health effects due to chronic exposure of arsenic from drinking water is a major public health problem worldwide including India. In Assam, the arsenic level in groundwater of Titabor block of Jorhat district has been reported to be very high. The present study was carried out to find out health impact of arsenic exposure from drinking water on people living in Titabor. The study was carried out to assess the prevalence of chronic arsenic toxicity (arsenicosis) in Titabor block of Jorhat district, Assam, and to determine the factors associated with chronic arsenic toxicity (arsenicosis) in relation to drinking water in the study population.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Community-based cross-sectional study was carried out by selecting 30 clusters using PPS (probability proportional to size) method. Total of 780 individuals were studied and 30 water samples were tested.
Statistical Analysis- The data collected were analysed using Epi info version 7, Microsoft Excel and SPSS version 18 (trial version).
RESULTS Prevalence of arsenicosis amongst the study population was found to be 0.38±0.019%. Currently, majority (49.2%) of study subjects consumed water supplied by PHE Department, while in past, majority (55%) of study subjects used pond water as drinking water. The mean concentration arsenic of water samples was 66.9 μg/L (SD 18.08).
CONCLUSION
The presence of high arsenic concentration in drinking water along with the presence of arsenicosis cases indicates the drinking water to be the determinant factor of arsenic exposure.
