Arsenic in Pakistan ground water endangers health

A study has warned that “alarming” levels of arsenic in the ground water of Pakistan is putting the health of the public in danger.

Research published in the journal Science Advances, looked at data from nearly 1,200 groundwater samples across the country and concluded that up to 60 million people could be at risk.

Arsenic can leach from rocks and sediment layers into water supplies, with prolonged exposure possibly leading to a variety of chronic health conditions, including skin disorders, cancers of the lung and bladder as well as cardiovascular issues.

As well as geological causes being a reason behind the levels of the chemical, the researchers believe high levels of irrigation in the Indus valley region could also be a significant factor.