Waterborne Arsenic Poisoning Caused by Discarded Slags — Yongzhou City, Hunan Province, China, 2018

What is already known about this topic? Overexposure to arsenic is toxic and affects bodily systems. In severe cases, loss of motor function and death can occur. What is added by this report? At the end of 2018, a waterborne acute arsenic poisoning event occurred in Yongzhou City of Hunan Province because arsenic-containing slags contaminated the water supply, which resulted in 10 people being poisoned. Patients were poisoned through domestic use of contaminated well water excluding drinking. What are the implications for public health practice? Clinicians should be trained to correctly and promptly identify and diagnose acute arsenic poisoning. The arsenic slags and byproducts should be strictly managed by corresponding enterprises to avoid similar poisoning incidents. When dealing with such events, water intended for domestic use should be closely monitored and environmental pollution should be assessed and controlled.