ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT: Millions of people living in eastern state of the West Bengal (India) are exposed to arsenic by consuming arsenic contaminated groundwater. The present study seeks to explore the role of social factors as determinants of arsenic exposure and adverse health outcomes. A crosssectional survey was conducted in five arsenic affected villages of one of the affected districts in the state. Out of 7,678 arsenic exposed people, 410 had developed dermatological manifestations, were taken as cases for the study. Severity of manifestation was found to be associated with arsenic exposure level, gender, occupation, socio economic status, nutritional status, accessibility and affordability of health services. Poor landless population were more suffered from arsenic due to malnutrition, higher arsenic exposure on account of their occupational pattern, inaccessibility to medical care and inability to shift to alternative arsenic safe water sources due to economic reasons. The research has revealed themultidimensional perspectives of arsenic exposure and adverse health outcomes and their complex relations.
