2.6.4 Characteristics of Arsenicosis
The disease caused by arsenic is known as arsenicosis. The characteristic of arsenicosis study in
different stages (Bist, 2000; Shrestha and Maskey, 2001) which are as follows:
Pre-clinical stage: Not-detectable by clinical manifestation.
• Skin color becomes black - Melanosis
Initial stage: • The skin becomes rough and though (particularly palms & soles of
food) - Keratosis
• Eyes becomes red - Conjunctivitis
• Pain in inhaling – Bronchitis
• Vomiting and Diarrhea – Gastroenteritis
• Black and white spots on the skin – Leukomelanosise
• Palms and soles are affected by hard nodules – Hyperkeratosis
Middle stage: • Swelling of legs – No pitting odema
• Peripheral neuropathy – Terminal neurosis
• Complications of Kidney and liver
• Infection of lateral organs – Gangrene
• Cancer in lungs, kidneys, uterus and other parts
• Total liver and kidney damage
Last stage: • Ulcer
• Diabetes and hypertension
Figure 5: Stage of Arsenocis
2.7 Situation of Arsenic in Nepal
Ground water arsenic problem in Nepal is a relatively new issue. This aspect of water quality was
considered only in 1999 when WHO/DWSS conducted a small survey in Terai region of Nepal. It
was followed by a mass scale arsenic contamination investigation by Nepal Red Cross Society
(NRCS) with the technical assistance of Environmental and public Health Organization
(ENPHO) and financial assistance of Japanese Red Cross Society. Later other rural water supply
29
, agencies like RWSSP, NEWAH and Development of Water Supply and Sewerage
(DWSS/UNICEF) started testing its tubewells in its project areas of Terai region. In total out of
the 20,240 tubewells tested till date in Nepal, 1550 (about 8%) tubewells has arsenic
concentration above Nepal Interim Standard (50 µg/L) while 5881 (29%) tubewells exceeds the
WHO standards. It is estimated from these studies that about 3.19 million people may have been
affected by arsenic contamination in Nepal (Maskey, 2003). The work summarized in the
following table:
Table 5: Arsenic Level at Different Districts in Nepal as of November 2003
Samples with Arsenic Concentrations Percentage exceeding
Max.
Conc.
11 to 50 Total no. detected
S. No. Districts 0- 10 ppb ppb > 50 ppb of tests ppb 10 ppb 50 ppb
1 Illam 4 0 0 4 0 0
2 Jhapa 493 77 1 571 79 14 0
3 Morang 339 260 4 603 70 44 1
4 Sunsari 646 241 4 891 75 27 0
5 Saptari 669 94 9 772 98 13 1
6 Siraha 245 235 104 584 90 58 18
7 Udaypur 3 0 0 3 5 0 0
8 Dhanusa 425 64 13 502 140 15 3
9 Mahhotari 177 21 4 202 80 12 2
10 Sarlahi 402 114 16 532 98 24 3
11 Rautahat 814 2289 262 3365 324 76 8
12 Bara 1983 550 51 2584 254 23 2
13 Parsa 1895 253 59 2207 456 14 3
14 Kathamndu 35 20 1 56 141 38 2
15 Chitwan 219 0 0 219 8 0 0
16 Nawalparasi 1385 1340 1108 3833 571 64 29
17 Rupandehi 2191 410 124 2725 2620 20 5
18 Kapilbastu 3471 466 162 4099 589 15 4
19 Palpa 26 0 0 26 0 0
20 Dang 639 25 3 667 81 4 0
21 Banke 2673 645 42 3360 270 20 1
22 Bardiya 472 160 20 652 181 28 3
23 Kailali 149 106 44 299 213 50 15
24 Kanchanpur 167 21 12 200 221 17 6
Total 19522 7391 2043 28956
Total % 67% 26% 7% 100%
Source: (National Arsenic Steering Committee, Nepal.)
30
The disease caused by arsenic is known as arsenicosis. The characteristic of arsenicosis study in
different stages (Bist, 2000; Shrestha and Maskey, 2001) which are as follows:
Pre-clinical stage: Not-detectable by clinical manifestation.
• Skin color becomes black - Melanosis
Initial stage: • The skin becomes rough and though (particularly palms & soles of
food) - Keratosis
• Eyes becomes red - Conjunctivitis
• Pain in inhaling – Bronchitis
• Vomiting and Diarrhea – Gastroenteritis
• Black and white spots on the skin – Leukomelanosise
• Palms and soles are affected by hard nodules – Hyperkeratosis
Middle stage: • Swelling of legs – No pitting odema
• Peripheral neuropathy – Terminal neurosis
• Complications of Kidney and liver
• Infection of lateral organs – Gangrene
• Cancer in lungs, kidneys, uterus and other parts
• Total liver and kidney damage
Last stage: • Ulcer
• Diabetes and hypertension
Figure 5: Stage of Arsenocis
2.7 Situation of Arsenic in Nepal
Ground water arsenic problem in Nepal is a relatively new issue. This aspect of water quality was
considered only in 1999 when WHO/DWSS conducted a small survey in Terai region of Nepal. It
was followed by a mass scale arsenic contamination investigation by Nepal Red Cross Society
(NRCS) with the technical assistance of Environmental and public Health Organization
(ENPHO) and financial assistance of Japanese Red Cross Society. Later other rural water supply
29
, agencies like RWSSP, NEWAH and Development of Water Supply and Sewerage
(DWSS/UNICEF) started testing its tubewells in its project areas of Terai region. In total out of
the 20,240 tubewells tested till date in Nepal, 1550 (about 8%) tubewells has arsenic
concentration above Nepal Interim Standard (50 µg/L) while 5881 (29%) tubewells exceeds the
WHO standards. It is estimated from these studies that about 3.19 million people may have been
affected by arsenic contamination in Nepal (Maskey, 2003). The work summarized in the
following table:
Table 5: Arsenic Level at Different Districts in Nepal as of November 2003
Samples with Arsenic Concentrations Percentage exceeding
Max.
Conc.
11 to 50 Total no. detected
S. No. Districts 0- 10 ppb ppb > 50 ppb of tests ppb 10 ppb 50 ppb
1 Illam 4 0 0 4 0 0
2 Jhapa 493 77 1 571 79 14 0
3 Morang 339 260 4 603 70 44 1
4 Sunsari 646 241 4 891 75 27 0
5 Saptari 669 94 9 772 98 13 1
6 Siraha 245 235 104 584 90 58 18
7 Udaypur 3 0 0 3 5 0 0
8 Dhanusa 425 64 13 502 140 15 3
9 Mahhotari 177 21 4 202 80 12 2
10 Sarlahi 402 114 16 532 98 24 3
11 Rautahat 814 2289 262 3365 324 76 8
12 Bara 1983 550 51 2584 254 23 2
13 Parsa 1895 253 59 2207 456 14 3
14 Kathamndu 35 20 1 56 141 38 2
15 Chitwan 219 0 0 219 8 0 0
16 Nawalparasi 1385 1340 1108 3833 571 64 29
17 Rupandehi 2191 410 124 2725 2620 20 5
18 Kapilbastu 3471 466 162 4099 589 15 4
19 Palpa 26 0 0 26 0 0
20 Dang 639 25 3 667 81 4 0
21 Banke 2673 645 42 3360 270 20 1
22 Bardiya 472 160 20 652 181 28 3
23 Kailali 149 106 44 299 213 50 15
24 Kanchanpur 167 21 12 200 221 17 6
Total 19522 7391 2043 28956
Total % 67% 26% 7% 100%
Source: (National Arsenic Steering Committee, Nepal.)
30
