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Table 4. Estimated number of Bangladeshis drinking water with metal concentrations greater than World Health Organization (WHO) risk-based guidelines. a
| Metal |
Carcinogenic Potential |
Percent of Bangladesh’s Area
Exceeding WHO Guidelines |
Number of Bangladeshis b |
| Arsenic |
Known carcinogen |
49 |
57,000,000 |
| Manganese |
Noncarcinogenic |
50 |
58,000,000 |
| Lead |
Possible carcinogen |
3 |
3,500,000 |
| Nickel |
Probable carcinogen |
< 1 |
< 1,200,000 |
| Chromium |
Noncarcinogenic |
< 1 |
< 1,200,000 |
a These results are from our 1998-1999 field program.
b Based on a total population of 120,000,000 with 97% of these people drinking well water.
- Our 1997 discovery that tubewells often contained an analytical interference to the 1,10-phenanthroline methods for measuring iron was the first indication that other
non-arsenic toxins maybe widely distributed in Bangladesh’s drinking water. The finding of severe melanosis, keratosis, skin cancer and other symptoms of chronic arsenic
poisoning, especially among children, supported this hypothesis.
- This discovery motivated our 1998-1999 field program which suggests that tens of millions of Bangladeshis are drinking water that exceeds WHO health-based guidelines
for manganese, lead, nickel, or chromium (see Table 4).
- In addition to these health risks from individual toxins, multimetal synergistic or inhibitory medical effects are possible:
- Antimony increases arsenic toxicity and was detected in 98% of wells.
- Selenium decreases arsenic toxicity and was not detected in 93% of wells.
- Zinc decreases arsenic toxicity and was not detected in 21% of wells.
- Chronic arsenic poisoning is the most significant health risk from drinking Bangladesh’s tubewell water, according to our national-scale survey of 36 inorganic chemicals.
Therefore, the rest of this Overview will focus on arsenic and our 1997 field program. Please read the Detailed Report of Our 1998-1999 Field Program for
more information about these non-arsenic toxins in Bangladesh’s tubewell water.
- E-mail the President of Better Life Laboratories, Seth H. Frisbie, Ph.D. (shf3@cornell.edu).
- Write us at Better Life Laboratories, 293 George Rd., East Calais, VT 05650, USA.
Last updated December 11, 2002
Copyright © 2002 Better Life Laboratories, Inc. All rights reserved.