A Birds Eye View On Arsenical Calamity In West Bengal

Abstract

Arsenical calamity in West Bengal was first detected by the author from Dermatology out patients department of the School of Tropical Medicine Calcutta in 1982 from patients of Gangapur village of North 24 Paraganas, District of West Bengal. The diagnosis of chronic arsenicosis was confirmed by finding high arsenic (As) values in nail, hair and skin scales. Only two incidence of exogenous arsenicosis, one from surface soaks of Paris green factory and one case from homeopathic arsenic drug intake have been noticed. Most of the arsenicosis occurred from intake of ground water. More than 2,00,000 people in 1206 rural areas of 76 blocks of 9 districts of West Bengal have been found to be affected with arsenicosis.