CONTAMINATION OF ARSENIC IN DRINKING WATER IN AYEYARWADY DELTA REGION, MYANMAR

In Myanmar an estimated 2.5 million people are at risk of arsenic poisoning from drinking water sources, especially ground water. The highest arsenic contamination is found in the delta region. Baseline investigations of the inhabitants’ primary sources of drinking water through face-to-face interviews and the level of arsenic contamination in wells were conducted. This cross-sectional study included 904 households in seven villages in Thabaung Township, Ayeyarwady region, Myanmar. Arsenic content was measured by field kit arsenator. In rainy season (June-September), half of the households reported rain water as one of the primary sources of drinking water. Among 181 tube wells, 123 wells (68%) were contaminated with arsenic >50 ?g/L. In total 404 (45%) of the households used contaminated wells as their primary source of drinking water, affecting 1704 (44%) individuals. A large proportion of the households in the Thabaung region are at risk of arsenic poisoning through drinking water from…