Arsenic in Drinking Water : Is 10 μg/L a Safe Limit?
Arsenic (As) is a naturally occurring element in the Earth’s crust. Both anthropogenic and natural processes can release As into sources for drinking water supply. A substantial epidemiological evidence is available to support that the chronic exposure to high concentrations in drinking water (> 10 μg/L) is associated with several detrimental effects on human health including skin lesions [1] and cancer of the lung [2], bladder [3], kidney [4], and liver [4]. Furthermore, dermatological, developmental, neurological [5], respiratory [6], cardiovascular [7], immunological [8], and endocrine effects [9] as a result of chronic exposure to high As concentrations have been reported. However, there remains considerable uncertainty on the chronic risks due to As exposure at low concentrations (< 10 μg/L) and the shape of the dose-response relationship [10, 11]. It is therefore crucial to question whether the 10 μg/L limit ensures protection of human health from the adverse health effects of As.
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article/Letter to editor biblioteca |
| Language: | English |
| Subjects: | Arsenic, Drinking Water, Health Effects, Water Utilities, |
| Online Access: | https://research.wur.nl/en/publications/arsenic-in-drinking-water-is-10μgl-a-safe-limit |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|