Arsenic and Health Risks in Ethiopia

Arsenic, a widely recognized and extremely toxic carcinogen, possesses highly hazardous properties that classify it as one of the most perilous chemicals worldwide. The main objective of this book is to understand the occurrence of arsenic, examine the extent of human exposure to arsenic, evaluate the associated health risks, and identify the contributing factors among residents residing in the central rift valley of Ethiopia.The results of this study indicate that the mean concentration of arsenic in groundwater sources during both seasons exceeded the maximum allowable limits set by the WHO, USEPA, and Ethiopian standards. This implies that the majority of groundwater sources in the study area are unsuitable for human consumption due to elevated arsenic levels. Furthermore, the concentration of arsenic displayed spatial and temporal variations in the study area. Moreover, the study findings reveal that arsenic exposure through oral ingestion and skin contact surpassed acceptable thresholds for both cancer and non-cancer risks in both seasons.

Pagina's: 212, Paperback, LAP LAMBERT Academic Publishing