Affiliations: School of Environmental Studies, Queen's
University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada. K7L 3N6. E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: Arsenic contamination of groundwater is one of the most serious
environmental health disasters occurred in India. Out of an estimated 9.7
million arsenic exposed population, nearly one million are showing various
forms of clinical manifestations, including cancers. The current study aims to
assess the social and health vulnerability of the affected population to cope
with arsenic pollution at the household and community levels. In arsenic
affected villages, an extensive study has been conducted, which included
household surveys, focus groups, informal discussions and interviews of
concerned authorities, civil society organizations, political leaders and
technical experts. Secondary data was collected by reviewing literature and
policy documents. The World Health Organization's (WHO)
International Classification of Impairment, Disability and Handicap (ICIDH) was
used to measure the consequences of arsenicosis. Poverty was one of the major
determinants of arsenic exposure level, severity of manifestations and
consequences, which has a link with a subject's occupation,
nutritional status, access to health care and good governance. The existing
knowledge gap between the scientific community and local government has been
the major obstacle in implementing a sustainable mitigation strategy. Social
disparity (including gender) and lack of a political will have resulted in poor
community participation during decision making and grass root planning
respectively. Hence, several strategies cannot benefit in terms of improvement
of symptoms. Rather, physical disability and disfigurement due to symptoms have
made the poor more vulnerable to economic and social exclusion. The study has
revealed that there is a need to incorporate the social determinants of
arsenicosis in mitigation policy in order to reach out to the vulnerable
section of the community.
Keywords: Chronic arsenicosis, consequences of diseases, disability, ICIDH, disparity, handicap, nutrition, occupation, policy, socio-economic status
