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RESIDENTIAL EXPOSURE TO DRINKING WATER ARSENIC IN INNER MONGOLIA, CHINA
Citation:
Ning, Z., R K. Kwok, S. Zhang, Z. Liu, C. Ma, D. T. LOBDELL, J. S. Mumford, AND M. Riediker. RESIDENTIAL EXPOSURE TO DRINKING WATER ARSENIC IN INNER MONGOLIA, CHINA. JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE ANALYSIS AND ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY 222(3):351-356, (2007).
Impact/Purpose:
to better understand the occurrence of arsenic (As) in drinking water
Description:
Residential exposure to drinking water arsenic in Inner Mongolia, China
Zhixiong Ning1, Richard K. Kwok2, Zhiyi Liu1, Shiying Zhang1, Chenglong Ma1, Danelle T. Lobdell2, Michael Riediker3 and Judy L. Mumford2
1) Institute of Endemic Disease for Prevention and Treatment in Inner Mongolia, China
2) Epidemiology and Biomarkers Branch, Human Studies Division, NHEERL, U.S. EPA, Chapel Hill, USA
3) Institut fur Hygiene und Arbeitsphysiologie, Zurich, Switzerland
Corresponding author:
Judy L. Mumford, Ph.D.
Epidemiology and Biomarkers Branch, Human Studies Division
U.S. EPA, NHEERL, MD-58C
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA
E-mail: Mumford.Judy@epa.gov
Voice: 919-966-0651
Fax: 919-966-0655
Running Title: "Residential exposure to drinking water arsenic"
Key words: Arsenic, drinking water, exposure, Inner Mongolia, China, residential
Abstract
In the Ba Men region of Inner Mongolia, China, a high prevalence of chronic arsenism has been reported in earlier studies. A survey of the water supply systems was conducted in 1997 to better understand the occurrence of arsenic (As) in drinking water. A total of 14,866 wells (30% of all wells in the region) were analyzed for their arsenic-content. Methods used to detect arsenic were colorimetry based on silver diethyldithiocarbamate, an adaptation of the mercury bromide stain technique, and atomic absorption spectroscopy. Arsenic-concentrations ranged from below limit of detection to 1.2 mg As/L. Elevated concentrations were related to well depth (20 to 40 m category), the date the well was built (peaks from 1980-1990), and geographic location. Over 43,600 persons consumed water with arsenic-concentrations above 0.01 mg As/L (14,500 above 0.05 mg of As/L, 2198 above 0.3 mg of As/L). The presented database of arsenic in wells of the Ba Men region provides a useful tool for planning future water explorations when combined with geological information as well as support for designing upcoming epidemiological studies on the effects of arsenic in drinking water for this region.
Disclaimer
This document has been reviewed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratories and approved for publication. Approval does not signify that the contents reflect the view of the Agency, nor does mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.
