China: water sources contaminated with arsenic or fluoride

Water sources for 65 million Chinese people are heavily contaminated with arsenic or fluoride, according to the country’s first national survey. Wen Donghai, director of the China Geological Survey's hydrogeology division, said that 63 million people drink water contaminated by fluoride, and the groundwater of another two million is contaminated by arsenic.

Arsenic pollution, mainly due to natural geological conditions, can cause high blood pressure, neurological diseases, diabetes and cancer. Excessive fluoride can trigger arthritis and tooth loss.

Scientists have used plants and microorganisms to remove arsenic from soil but roots don't reach some contaminated layers. Wen recommends drilling deeper wells.

Meanwhile, companies are to be targeted in a drive to clean up the Huaihe River that supplies water to some 150 million people. The Huaihe is one of the most polluted rivers in the country, with more than half of its monitoring points recording the highest possible levels of pollution. The State Environmental Protection Administration, SEPA, says that factories must cut pollution or be closed down.  

Related news: China: 20 million rural people promised safer water, Source, 7 Apr 2005; China: clean water pledge by 2020, Source, 6 Dec 2004; China: Yangtze’s long sad descent into foulness, Source, 23 Nov 2004.  

Sources: SciDev Net, 13 May 2005; China Daily, 13 May 2005.

Keywords

• Water-related diseases
• Water quality