ABSTRACT
Arsenic contamination in the groundwater is a serious and widespread global public health problem and India is one of the highly arsenic exposed country with maximum impact in the Ganga-Meghna-Brahmaputra (GMB) plains. A total of 18 districts out of 38 districts of the state of Bihar are highly affected with groundwater arsenic poisoning. Gyaspur-Mahaji village (a flood plain region of river Ganga) of Patna district was under taken for the study on the basis of large number of skin and breast cancer cases along with typical symptoms of arsenicosis diagnosed in Mahavir Cancer Institute and Research Centre, Patna. The study deals with the survey of the entire village with groundwater and blood arsenic estimation with special attention to know the health status of the arsenic exposed population. The study revealed high arsenic concentration in the groundwater in the village. Arsenic in the blood samples indicates biomarker for chronic arsenic exposure. The overall health status of the village people was very poor but the most unfortunate part was the appearance of skin cancer and breast cancer in many of the arsenic exposed population of this village. Although the number of such persons was few, it was still alarming as more persons may be impacted if they continue to drink arsenic contaminated water in future.
