Dipankar Chakraborti

Bio: Dipankar Chakraborti is an academic researcher from Jadavpur University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Arsenic contamination of groundwater & Arsenic. The author has an hindex of 54, co-authored 115 publications receiving 12078 citations. Previous affiliations of Dipankar Chakraborti include Central Pollution Control Board & Indian Statistical Institute.

Some drinking-water disinfectants and contaminants, including arsenic

Abstract: Members M.W. Anders, Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Box 711, Rochester, NY 14642, USA Richard J. Bull, Department of Environmental Sciences, Washington State University − Tri cities, 2710 University Drive, Richland, WA 99352-6534, USA Kenneth P. Cantor, Occupational Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, 6120 Executive Boulevard, EPS-8106, Bethesda, MD 20892-7240, USA (Subgroup Chair: Cancer in Humans) Dipankar Chakraborti, School of Environmental Studies, Jadavpur University, Calcutta − 700 032, India Chien-Jen Chen, Graduate Institute of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, 1 Jen-Ai Road Section 1, Room 1547, Taipei 10018, Taiwan, China Anthony B. DeAngelo, Environmental Carcinogenesis Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, MD-68 ERC, 86 TW Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA (Subgroup Chair: Cancer in Experimental Animals) David M. DeMarini, Environmental Carcinogenesis Division (MD-68), US Environmental Protection Agency, 86 Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA Catterina Ferreccio, Department of Pontifical Public Health, Catholic University of Chile, Marcoleta 352, Santiago, Chile (Subgroup Chair: Other Relevant Data) Shoji Fukushima, Department of Pathology, Osaka City University Medical School, 1-4-3 Asahi-machi, Abeno-ku, Osaka 545-8585, Japan Thomas W. Gebel, Federal Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Division 4, Safety and Health with Chemical and Biological Agents, Friedrich-Henkel-Weg 1-25, Postfach 17 02 02, Haus IV, FB 4, 44149 Dortmund, Germany IARC WORKING GROUP ON THE EVALUATION OF CARCINOGENIC RISKS TO HUMANS: SOME DRINKING-WATER DISINFECTANTS AND CONTAMINANTS, INCLUDING ARSENIC

Groundwater arsenic contamination in Bangladesh and West Bengal, India.

Abstract: Nine districts in West Bengal, India, and 42 districts in Bangladesh have arsenic levels in groundwater above the World Health Organization maximum permissible limit of 50 microg/L. The area and po...

Arsenic in ground water in six districts of West bengal, India: the biggest arsenic calamity in the world. Part 2. Arsenic concentration in drinking water, hair, nails, urine, skin-scale and liver tissue (biopsy) of the affected people.

Abstract: In six districts of West Bengal arsenic has been found in ground water above the maximum permissible limit recommended by the WHO of 0.05 mg l–1. This water is used by the villagers for drinking, cooking and other household purposes. These six districts have an area of 34 000 km2 and hold a population of 30 million. Over the last five years we have surveyed only a few small areas of these six affected districts and our survey revealed that, at present, at least 800 000 people from 312 villages in 37 blocks are drinking contaminated water and more than 175 000 people are showing arsenical skin lesions that are the late stages of manifestation of arsenic toxicity. Most of the three stages of arsenic-related clinical manifestations are observed amongst the affected people. The common symptoms are conjunctivitis, melanosis, depigmentation, keratosis and hyperkeratosis; cases of gangrene and malignant neoplasms are also observed. The source of arsenic is geological. We have analysed thousands of arsenic contaminated water samples. Most of the water samples contain a mixture of arsenite and arsenate and in none of them could we detect methylarsonic or dimethylarsinic acid. We have also analysed a large number of urine, hair and nail samples, several skin-scales and some liver tissues (biopsy samples) of the people drinking the arsenic contaminated water and showing arsenical skin lesions. Flow injection hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry (FI-HGAAS) was used for the analysis of hair, nails, urine and skin-scale after decomposition by various techniques. The liver tissues were analysed by Zeeman corrected-ETAAS using a few milligrams of the biopsy samples.

Arsenic Groundwater Contamination in Middle Ganga Plain, Bihar, India: A Future Danger?

Abstract: The pandemic of arsenic poisoning due to contaminated groundwater in West Bengal, India, and all of Bangladesh has been thought to be limited to the Ganges Delta (the Lower Ganga Plain), despite early survey reports of arsenic contamination in groundwater in the Union Territory of Chandigarh and its surroundings in the northwestern Upper Ganga Plain and recent findings in the Terai area of Nepal. Anecdotal reports of arsenical skin lesions in villagers led us to evaluate arsenic exposure and sequelae in the Semria Ojha Patti village in the Middle Ganga Plain, Bihar, where tube wells replaced dug wells about 20 years ago. Analyses of the arsenic content of 206 tube wells (95% of the total) showed that 56.8% exceeded arsenic concentrations of 50 micro g/L, with 19.9% > 300 micro g/L, the concentration predicting overt arsenical skin lesions. On medical examination of a self-selected sample of 550 (390 adults and 160 children), 13% of the adults and 6.3% of the children had typical skin lesions, an unusually high involvement for children, except in extreme exposures combined with malnutrition. The urine, hair, and nail concentrations of arsenic correlated significantly (r = 0.72-0.77) with drinking water arsenic concentrations up to 1,654 micro g/L. On neurologic examination, arsenic-typical neuropathy was diagnosed in 63% of the adults, a prevalence previously seen only in severe, subacute exposures. We also observed an apparent increase in fetal loss and premature delivery in the women with the highest concentrations of arsenic in their drinking water. The possibility of contaminated groundwater at other sites in the Middle and Upper Ganga Plain merits investigation.

Toxicity, mechanism and health effects of some heavy metals

Abstract: Heavy metal toxicity has proven to be a major threat and there are several health risks associated with it. The toxic effects of these metals, even though they do not have any biological role, remain present in some or the other form harmful for the human body and its proper functioning. They sometimes act as a pseudo element of the body while at certain times they may even interfere with metabolic processes. Few metals, such as aluminium, can be removed through elimination activities, while some metals get accumulated in the body and food chain, exhibiting a chronic nature. Various public health measures have been undertaken to control, prevent and treat metal toxicity occurring at various levels, such as occupational exposure, accidents and environmental factors. Metal toxicity depends upon the absorbed dose, the route of exposure and duration of exposure, i.e. acute or chronic. This can lead to various disorders and can also result in excessive damage due to oxidative stress induced by free radical formation. This review gives details about some heavy metals and their toxicity mechanisms, along with their health effects.

Contamination of drinking-water by arsenic in Bangladesh: a public health emergency

Abstract: The contamination of groundwater by arsenic in Bangladesh is the largest poisoning of a population in history, with millions of people exposed. This paper describes the history of the discovery of arsenic in drinking-water in Bangladesh and recommends intervention strategies. Tube-wells were installed to provide ‘‘pure water’’ to prevent morbidity and mortality from gastrointestinal disease. The water from the millions of tube-wells that were installed was not tested for arsenic contamination. Studies in other countries where the population has had long-term exposure to arsenic in groundwater indicate that 1 in 10 people who drink water containing 500mg of arsenic per litre may ultimately die from cancers caused by arsenic, including lung, bladder and skin cancers. The rapid allocation of funding and prompt expansion of current interventions to address this contamination should be facilitated. The fundamental intervention is the identification and provision of arsenic-free drinking water. Arsenic is rapidly excreted in urine, and for early or mild cases, no specific treatment is required. Community education and participation are essential to ensure that interventions are successful; these should be coupled with follow-up monitoring to confirm that exposure has ended. Taken together with the discovery of arsenic in groundwater in other countries, the experience in Bangladesh shows that groundwater sources throughout the world that are used for drinking-water should be tested for arsenic.