Analysis and survey of endemic arsenic poisoning in Shanxi Province in 2009

Objective To explore distribution of endemic arsenic poisoning to provide scientific evidence for its prevention in Shanxi Province.Methods According to National Technical Scheme for Endemic Disease Control,37 villages were selected to detect for arsenic content in drinking water and to investigate the situation of endemic arsenic poisoning in 10 counties in 2009.The level of arsenic content in drinking water was detected with atomic fluorescence method.Patients with endemic arsenic poisoning were diagnosed in accordance with The Standard of Diagnosis for Endemic Arsenic poisoning(WS/T211-2001).Results Out of the 37 villages,there were 12 villages of unimproved water and 25 of improved water.It was severe that water arsenic content was over normal in the villages without improved water,with the maximal water arsenic content of 0.498 mg/L.In the water-improved villages,the maximal water arsenic content was 0.043 2 mg/L and the minimal water arsenic content was 0.000 1 mg/L,which were in accordence with the national health standard of arsenic content in drinking water(0.05 mg/L).In the villages of unimproved water,totally 13 332 people were investigated with 155 individuals with arsenism,with prevalence rate of 1.16%(155/13 332),including 104 of the mild,occupied 0.78%(104/13 332),51 of the moderate,accounting for 0.38%(51/13 332),and none of the severe.According to the determination standard for endemic area,the 12 villages were new endemic areas of arsenism.In the water-improved villages,19 603 persons were investigated with discovery of 260 patients with arsenism(prevalence of 1.33%,260/19 603),covering 1.14%(223/19 603)of the mild,0.18%(36/19 603)of the moderate,and 0.005%(1/19603)of the severe.In this survey,the endemic condition was mild in the 37 villages.Conclusions Around the endemic arsenium area,there are still some undiscovered endemic areas of arsenism.It is necessary to investigate arsenic content in drinking water and endemic condition in vicinity areas,in order to master the distribution of endemic arsenium in Shanxi Province.