How does arsenic affect groundwater?
As contamination of groundwater, poses a serious risk to human health. Excessive and prolonged exposure of inorganic As with drinking water is causing arsenicosis, a deteriorating and disabling disease characterized by skin lesions and pigmentation of the skin, patches on palm of the hands and soles of the feet.
What are the causes of arsenic in groundwater?
Environmental sources of arsenic stem from the continuing use of its compounds and pesticides, from its unintended release during the mining of gold and lead and from the combustion of coal, of which it is a contaminant. Industrial effluents also contribute arsenic to water in some areas.
Which disease is caused by arsenic pollution of groundwater?
Arsenic contamination of groundwater is estimated to be affecting 500 million people around the globe. Continuous exposure to high arsenic water causes pigmentation, hyperkeratoses, ulceration, skin cancer and also affects liver, kidney, heart, and lungs (Sun et al., 2019 and references therein).
Which disease is caused by arsenic?
Arsenic is related to heart disease (hypertension-related cardiovascular disease), cancer, stroke (cerebrovascular diseases), chronic lower respiratory diseases, and diabetes. Skin effects can include skin cancer in the long term, but often prior to skin cancer are different skin lesions.
How does arsenic affect the environment?
The effects include death, inhibition of growth, photosynthesis and reproduction, and behavioral effects. Environments contaminated with arsenic contain only a few species and fewer numbers within species. If levels of arsenate are high enough, only resistant organisms, such as certain microbes, may be present.
How does arsenic affect photosynthesis?
The results of the present experiment reveal that higher soil arsenic concentrations decrease the chlorophyll content and there by, lower the photosynthesis rate, because the net photosynthetic rate of rice is largely affected by leaf nitrogen content and specific leaf weight (Peng, 2000).
How does arsenic affect crops?
Arsenic is non-essential and generally toxic to plants. Roots are usually the first tissue to be exposed to As, where the metalloid inhibits root extension and proliferation. Cellular membranes become damaged in plants exposed to As, causing electrolyte leakage (Singh et al., 2006).
How does arsenic affect plants?
In general, arsenic is toxic to plants and animals due to the fact that it can cause cell death through oxidative stress or by interfering with a cell’s ability to produce ATP, a compound that acts as an energy source.