Summary
Arsenic poisoning is a serious and widespread problem. It is commonly found in groundwater, and is believed to be caused by the oxidation of iron pyrites. When poisoned with arsenic, humans can suffer from arsenicosis. This illness includes symptoms such as spotted skin, hard and painful growths, and organ failure. Arsenicosis is also associated with many cancers and neurological disorders. Arsenic poisoning is an epidemic is Bangladesh, and many solutions are being tested there. Early stages of arsenicosis can be eradicated if the patient drinks clean water. However, supplying such water is proving to be a difficult task. One promising solution includes digging deeper wells. Water tables that are lower underground seem to have lower levels of arsenic. However, it is not yet known if this is the case everywhere.
Reflection
Before reading this article, I knew that arsenic was poisonous, but I didn't know how it poisoned people. It must be very frightening for people who are at risk of arsenic poisoning. After all, symptoms can take ten years after initial arsenic exposure to show up. Digging deeper wells sounds like a promising solution, but the new water tables should be extensively tested for arsenic and other contaminants. Doing so is imperative because it is the lack of testing of groundwater that got Bangladesh into this horrible mess in the first place. However, this is all very costly. That being said, I am confident that the Bangladesh government will investigate these matters as outlined in the article: safe drinking water is an absolute necessity.
Arsenic poisoning is a serious and widespread problem. It is commonly found in groundwater, and is believed to be caused by the oxidation of iron pyrites. When poisoned with arsenic, humans can suffer from arsenicosis. This illness includes symptoms such as spotted skin, hard and painful growths, and organ failure. Arsenicosis is also associated with many cancers and neurological disorders. Arsenic poisoning is an epidemic is Bangladesh, and many solutions are being tested there. Early stages of arsenicosis can be eradicated if the patient drinks clean water. However, supplying such water is proving to be a difficult task. One promising solution includes digging deeper wells. Water tables that are lower underground seem to have lower levels of arsenic. However, it is not yet known if this is the case everywhere.
Reflection
Before reading this article, I knew that arsenic was poisonous, but I didn't know how it poisoned people. It must be very frightening for people who are at risk of arsenic poisoning. After all, symptoms can take ten years after initial arsenic exposure to show up. Digging deeper wells sounds like a promising solution, but the new water tables should be extensively tested for arsenic and other contaminants. Doing so is imperative because it is the lack of testing of groundwater that got Bangladesh into this horrible mess in the first place. However, this is all very costly. That being said, I am confident that the Bangladesh government will investigate these matters as outlined in the article: safe drinking water is an absolute necessity.