Assessing Vulnerability of the Arsenic Exposed Population in India

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.