Human Body Burden of Total Arsenic, from Drinking Water, Food, and Food Preparation Practices, and Suffering of People

Uttam K. Chowdhury, Dipankar Chakarborti

Published Date: May - 30 - 2025

Rice and vegetables are the staple foods for poor villagers in Bangladesh and West Bengal, India. This is also true for the villagers in the Kolsur Gram Panchayat (G.P.) in the Deganga Block of North 24-Parganas district, West Bengal, India, where we conducted a study on arsenic levels in water, soil, rice, and vegetables from 10 agricultural plots irrigated with arsenic-contaminated water.

Based on our findings, the total daily arsenic exposure (from drinking water, rice, vegetables, pantavat (rice mixed with water) and water used in food preparation) for an adult in North Kolsur is 1,185.0 µg and for a child is 653.2 µg. Of this, arsenic from rice, vegetables, pantavat, and cooking water accounts for 485 µg (41%) for adults and 253.2 µg (38.8%) for children. Specifically, rice and vegetables alone contribute 285 µg (24%) of the total daily exposure for adults and 153.2 µg (23.4%) for children (approximately 10 years old). Our findings indicate that most of the arsenic in food is inorganic in nature. Since inorganic arsenic compounds are more toxic than organic ones, this is a significant health concern.

Compared to global arsenic intake from food, it appears that villagers in Kolsur are consuming unusually high amounts of inorganic arsenic from rice and vegetables, placing them at risk from food-based arsenic exposure. Kolsur village serves as a representative example of many such villages in West Bengal, India, and Bangladesh.

Furthermore, agricultural products grown with arsenic-contaminated irrigation water and in arsenic-rich soil are reaching markets far beyond these contaminated areas. As a result, even individuals who are not consuming arsenic-contaminated drinking water may be exposed to arsenic through food products cultivated in affected regions. In both West Bengal (including Kolkata) and Bangladesh (including Dhaka), rice, vegetables, and other food items from contaminated villages are transported to urban centers, making it likely that city dwellers are also at risk of consuming arsenic-contaminated food.

A Micro-Level Comparative Study of an Arsenic-Affected Rich Family and a Poor Family in Bangladesh

Uttam K. Chowdhury, Dipankar Chakarborti, Shibtosh Roy

Published Date: May - 31 - 2025

A socio-economic study in the Arsenic affected villages indicated that villagers are living in very poor conditions. During our six-year field survey, we observed that individuals with poor nutrition suffer more from arsenic-related health issues. People with poor nutritional status tend to develop arsenical skin lesions at lower arsenic concentrations, while good nutrition may offer some protection at higher levels. Our micro-level comparative study between wealthy and poor families supports this observation: poor families suffer more from arsenic toxicity than rich families, despite nearly similar levels of arsenic exposure.

Children Are at Higher Risk of Arsenic Toxicity from Drinking Water

Uttam K. Chowdhury, Shibtosh Roy

Published Date: Jun - 08 - 2025

We surveyed for arsenical patients in 33 out of the 64 districts in Bangladesh and identified patients in 31 districts. From this random survey of4864 children inarsenicaffectedvillages,whereresidents hadbeen drinking arsenic contaminated water over the past six years, we registered 298children (6.13%) with arsenicalskinlesions.

In our six-year survey, we found that children are at higher risk of arsenic toxicity, especially those with poor nutrition. The arsenical skin lesions commonly observed in children include diffuse melanosis, spotted melanosis, and whole-body melanosis. It was observed that the percentage of whole-body melanosis was higher in children (34.9%) compared to adults (24.7%). Diffuse melanosis on the palm (88.92%) was the most common in children, followed by spotted melanosis (67.8%) and diffuse melanosis (47%) on the trunk. Keratosis on the palms and soles is not common in children.

The prevalence of arsenical skin lesions in children, ranked in decreasing order, is as follows: DM-P (Diffuse Melanosis on Palms) > SM-T (Spotted Melanosis on Trunk) > DM-T (Diffuse Melanosis on Trunk) > SK-S (Spotted Keratosis on Sole) > DK-S (Diffuse Keratosis on Sole) = SK-P (Spotted Keratosis on Palm) > WB-M (Whole-body Melanosis) > DK-P (Diffuse Keratosis on Palm) > Leucomelanosis > SM-P (Spotted Melanosis on Palm) > Dorsum.

It appears that children living in arsenic-affected villages have a higher arsenic body burden (84% of the children had arsenic levels in hair above the toxic threshold, and 89% had arsenic levels in nails above the normal level) but exhibit fewer dermatological symptoms.

Additionally, in a follow-up study, using safe drinking water (<3 µg/L arsenic) reduces arsenical skin lesions, especially diffuse melanosis, which disappeared in children. Those who had mild spotted melanosis (+) and mild keratosis (+) no longer showed these lesions. However, children continued to report symptoms such as general weakness, breathing difficulties, and frequent coughs and cold.

Arsenical Skin Lesions: A Health Problem in the Villages of Bangladesh

Dipankar Chakarborti, Uttam K. Chowdhury

Published Date: Jun - 14 - 2025

The survey was conducted from 1995 to 2000 by our group, in collaboration with a medical team, across 253 villages in 77 police stations within 33 out of 50 districts in Bangladesh where groundwater contamination with arsenic exceeded 50?µg/L. We randomly examined 18,841 people in arsenic-affected villages, where residents had been consuming arsenic-contaminated water for nearly six years. Among them, we registered 1,885 males, 1,542 females, and 298 children as having arsenical skin lesions. Including children, 19.77% (n = 3,725) of the population showed arsenical manifestations. Separately, 24.47% of adults and 6.12% of children were affected.

We identified individuals with various arsenical manifestations, including spotted melanosis on the palm (SMP), spotted melanosis on the trunk (SMT), diffuse melanosis on the trunk (DMT), leucomelanosis (Leuco), whole-body melanosis (WBM), spotted keratosis on the palm (SKP), diffuse keratosis on the palm (DKP), spotted keratosis on the sole (SKS), and diffuse keratosis on the sole (DKS). Buccal mucous membrane melanosis (MMM) affecting the tongue, gums, lips, etc., was also observed. In severe cases, symptoms included rough, dry skin with palpable nodules (spotted keratosis) on the dorsum of the hands, feet, and legs.

It was observed that poor nutritional status increased the likelihood of arsenical skin lesions even at lower arsenic exposure levels. Conversely, individuals with good nutrition did not exhibit skin lesions even when exposed to arsenic levels above 300?µg/L. We did not identify any individuals with arsenical skin lesions who had consumed water containing less than 100?µg/L of arsenic.

Comparative Assessment of Arsenic-Induced Skin Lesions in Adults and Children in Bangladesh

Uttam K. Chowdhury

Published Date: Jun - 22 - 2025

A comprehensive survey was conducted by a team in collaboration with a medical group across 253 villages in 77 police stations within 33 of the 50 districts of Bangladesh, where groundwater arsenic contamination exceeded 50?µg/L. Over the six-year period from 1995 to 2000, arsenic-affected patients were identified in 222 villages across 69 police stations in 31 districts.

A total of 18,841 individuals, including children, were randomly selected from arsenic-affected villages and examined. Among them, 3,725 individuals (19.77%) were diagnosed with arsenical skin lesions. Of the total registered patients, 1,885 were male, 1,542 female, and 298 children. The overall prevalence of arsenical skin lesions was 19.77%, with adult prevalence at 24.47% and child prevalence at 6.12%.

The observed arsenical manifestations include: DORSUM: Keratotic nodules on the back of hands/feet;WB-M: Whole-body melanosis; Leuco: Leucomelanosis;DK-S: Diffuse keratosis on the sole;SK-S: Spotted keratosis on the sole;DK-P: Diffuse keratosis on the palm;SK-P: Spotted keratosis on the palm; DM-T: Diffuse melanosis on the trunk; SM-T: Spotted melanosis on the trunk; DM-P: Diffuse melanosis on the palm; SM-P: Spotted melanosis on the palm. The results indicate that the prevalence of all types of arsenical skin lesions was lower in children than in adults, except for whole-body melanosis (WB-M). Notably, during the six-year study period, no children under the age of 11 were identified with non-pitting oedema, gangrene, Bowen’s disease, dorsal lesions, or cancer.

However, biological sample analysis suggests that although children in arsenic-affected villages carry a higher arsenic body burden, they exhibit fewer dermatological symptoms compared to adults.