Millions of Chinese face risk of chronic arsenic poisoning

Since the 1960s, it has been known that groundwater resources in certain provinces of China are contaminated with arsenic. Estimates of the numbers of affected people have risen year by year. In the most recent survey - conducted by the Chinese Ministry of Health between 2001 and 2005 - more than 20,000 (5%) of the 445,000 wells tested showed arsenic concentrations higher than 50 -g/L. According to official estimates, almost 6 million people consume drinking water with an arsenic content of more than 50 -g/L and almost 15 million are exposed to concentrations exceeding 10 -g/L (the guideline value recommended by the WHO).

Given the sheer size of China and the time and expense involved in testing for arsenic contamination, several more decades would probably be required to screen all of the millions of groundwater wells. Accordingly, a group of researchers from Eawag and the China Medical University in Shenyang de-veloped a statistical risk model making use of existing data on geology, soil characteristics and topographic features. This model was calibrated using available arsenic measurements. The predictions of unsafe or safe areas showed a high level of agreement, both for known high-risk areas and for areas where elevated arsenic levels had been ruled out by sampling campaigns.

In addition, large areas have now been identified as potentially at risk, such as the basins of the Tarim (Xinjiang), Ejina (Inner Mongolia) and Heihe (Gansu), or the North China Plain (Henan and Shandong). Arsenic concentrations above 10 -g/L are predicted for a total area of 580,000 km2. When these results were combined with the latest available population data, it was found that almost 20 million people across China live in high-risk areas. Geochemist Annette Johnson concedes: "This figure may be an overestimate, as we lack reliable information on the number of people with treated water sup-plies." But in the long term, she adds, China will remain dependent on groundwater as a source of drinking water, particularly in the arid provinces. The risk model shows where conventional groundwa-ter quality monitoring efforts are best focussed: "Our method permits more targeted sampling cam-paigns and saves time in identifying populations at risk. The Chinese authorities are adopting our maps in the national monitoring programme." Johnson is convinced that the model could also be used in other countries where groundwater is known or suspected to be contaminated with arsenic - for example, in Africa or in central Asia, where risk assessments for arsenic contamination have not yet been performed.

Box: Arsenic

Arsenic is one of the most common inorganic contaminants found in drinking water world-wide. This metalloid occurs as a natural component of sediments, with small quantities being dissolved in groundwater as a result of weathering. The inorganic salts of arsenic are tasteless and odourless, but highly toxic to humans. If ingested over long periods, even low concentrations can cause damage to health, including hyperpigmentation of the skin, hyperkeratosis on the palms and soles, disorders of liver, cardiovascular and kidney function, and various types of cancer. Problems arise from the fact that firstly, arsenic concentrations can vary widely at the local level and, secondly, people in many areas are completely unaware of the risk because their groundwater wells have never been screened for arsenic. Concentrations below 10 -g/L are considered safe. This concentration is therefore recommended by the World Health Organi-zation as a guideline value for arsenic in drinking water. In China, the standard guideline has just recently changed from 50 -g/L to 10 -g/L. In many other studies, e.g. at various sites in Inner Mongolia, arsenic concentrations of more than 100 -g/L and up to 1500 -g/L have been measured.