The population of more than 5 thousand in Tehsil Chichawatni is forced to use underground water containing the toxic chemical elements ‘arsenic’ and TDS. This ‘slow poisoning’ through drinking water is extremely dangerous and unsafe for human consumption, including crops and livestock.
According to the reports, water samples tested showed levels of arsenic and TDA in the village’s drinking water 700 times higher than Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards. The normal range of arsenic should be 10 micrograms per liter, whereas TDS should be around 50 to 150 ppm (parts per million). However, the drinking water in Chichawatni has 50 – 200 mg arsenic per liter and 699 to 2230 ppm TDS.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), immediate symptoms of arsenic exposure include vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. The symptoms are followed by unconsciousness, dizziness, muscle pain, and, in severe cases, death. Early effects of excessive arsenic exposure through drinking water or food are seen in the skin, including discoloration, skin lesions, and hard patches on the palms and soles.
These effects occur after about 5 years of exposure to arsenic and can cause skin cancer, in addition to bladder and lung cancer. Moreover, arsenic is also associated with pregnancy complications and infant mortality, which affects the health of children.