ENSC 201 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Lead, Micronutrient, Rodenticide
13 Apr 2017
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Document Summary
Inorganic elements can be both essential for good health at low concentrations and toxic at high concentrations. Exposure to natural sources can be increased by anthropogenic activities. Speciation of metals and metalloids affects toxicity and mobility. All four key points summarized above can be applied to arsenic except (maybe) the first. Naturally high arsenic in groundwater used for drinking has caused health problems in many parts of the world. Arsenic mass poisoning in west bengal (india) and bangladesh. In 1970s, un agencies promoted the use of groundwater for drinking to prevent disease spread by microbially- contaminated surface water. Groundwater tapped by tube wells contains arsenic from natural sources. Estimated population exposed to waters containing more than 50 mg/l. Potential ingestion of soils and dust with elevated arsenic at old gold mines in nova. Children are more vulnerable due to lower body weight and tendency to play with soil. Children play in arsenic-rich mine tailings near dartmouth.
