Environmental arsenic contamination and its health effects in a historic gold mining area of the Mangalur greenstone belt of Northeastern Karnataka, India

摘要: Abstract This report summarizes recent findings of environmental arsenic (As) contamination and the consequent health effects in a community located near historic gold mining activities Mangalur greenstone belt Karnataka, India. Arsenic contents water, hair, nail, soil food were measured by FI-HG-AAS. Elemental analyses soils determined ICP-MS (inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry). Of 59 tube-well water samples, 79% had As above 10 μg L−1 (maximum 303 μg L−1). 12 topsoil six found to contain greater than 2000 mg kg−1 possibly indicating impact mine tailings on area. All hair nail samples collected from 171 residents contained elevated As. Arsenical skin lesions observed among 58.6% total 181 screened individuals. Histopathological analysis puncture biopsies suspected arsenical dermatological symptoms confirmed diagnosis three out four patients. Based time-course As-like reported as well presence overt arsenicosis, it is hypothesized that primary route exposure study area was via contaminated groundwater; however, identified high content residential could also be significant source ingestion. Additional studies are required determine extent relative contribution geologic anthropogenic factors region. our knowledge one first describe arsenicosis this region India more broadly an with underlying geology activity.