[The survey on arsenism caused by drinking water]

This paper reports the epidemiologic and clinical observations on arsenism caused by drinking water in Zhi Ji Liang and Tie Men Gen, Huhhot. Results showed that the content of arsenic in drinking water was eleven times as much as that of the national standard. The incidence rate of arsenism increased with the rise of arsenic content in water. In contrast to the high As content, the contents of Pb, Zn, Se were low in water and the pH value was slightly acidic. Arsenic contents in hair, fingernails and urine were all higher than those of the control. Patients with arsenism showed symptoms of anaemia.