Current situation of the project of water improvement to reduce arsenic in endemic arsenism area in Shanxi province / 中国地方病学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the actual situation of implementation of the project to reduce water arsenic in endemic arsenic poisoning areas in Shanxi province,and to provide a scientific basis for prevention and control of the disease.Methods In June 2011,a questionnaire survey of 151 arsenic endemic villages was carried out in Shanxi province.The actual situation of implementation of the project to reduce water arsenic was investigated.Water samples were collected and arsenic level was determined by atomic fluorescence spectrometry.Results In the 151 arsenic poisoning villages 126 villages had changed the water,and the rate was 83.44％.In these villages,22 villages did not use the water improvement utilities properly.Of the 33 water improvement projects to reduce arsenic,23 operated normally.The projects covered 110 villages,beneficiary population of 97 920 people,accounting for 46.9％(97 920/208 736) of the total population.Water arsenic exceeded the national standards(≤0.05 mg/L) in 10 of the water improvement projects which covered 31 villages,including 15 nonendemic villages and 16 diseased villages.There were a population of 24 764 people in the diseased villages.Conclusions In Shanxi endemic arsenic poisoning areas,water improvement efforts need to be strengthened; the quality of water improvement project needs to be improved,and the project's later management and maintenance also need to be further strengthened.