Arsenic pollution of the groundwater of Zimapan, Mexico, and its health impact

Groundwater contaminated by arsenic is the only potable water source at Zimapan town in Mexico. Tap water, which is consumed by most of the population, has an As concentration of around 0.3 mg/L. Part of the Zimapan inhabitants drink water directly from wells having various As contents. The most polluted well used for human consumption has 1.0 mg/L of the contaminant. Arsenic in groundwater comes from natural and anthropogenic sources. In order to evaluate the degree of health affectation of Zimapan dwellers resulting from drinking As-polluted water, a study of the degree of As assimilation has been carried out. Analyses of arsenic content in hair of people drinking different levels of As has been performed. The results of a poll to detect diseases possible linked with As consumption and visible skin problems are also presented. Some relation was observed between the As hair's content and the health affectation which may be attributed to As toxicity.