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Contamination of water with arsenic has been a longstanding problem since the beginning of the industrial revolution. The poisoning with arsenic in our body can lead to heart problems, darker skin and even cancer.
But now, a new study has revealed that arsenic can even alter the structure of the heart. If water containing arsenic is consumed, the main pumping chamber of the heart can thicken up to 50%, revealed Daily mail. The thicker arterial walls expose the person to a risk of hypertension, heart attack and stroke.
Several parts of India have symptoms of arsenic poisoning due to the consumption of contaminated water. The symptoms begin to appear only after several years of consumption. The WHO recommendation for acceptable levels of arsenic in drinking water is 0.01 mg / liter. More than 21 Indian states have reported unacceptably high levels of arsenic in drinking water, with Uttar Pradesh at the top of the list.
The immediate effects of drinking contaminated water are stomach pain, diarrhea and vomiting. Long-term effects such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes have been observed in humans.
The study, led by a team at the Hietzing Hospital in Vienna, Austria, found that an increase of twice the arsenic content of urine increased the chances of thickening of the chamber by almost 50%. heart. A study conducted in 2017 revealed that about 2.1 million people in the United States draw their drinking water from private wells and that their arsenic levels are dangerously high.
For the study, urine samples were taken from more than 1,300 adults and their arsenic levels were measured. Then, electrocardiograms were performed on these adults to determine the shape, size and function of their heart. This study was conducted over a five-year period and none of the participants had diabetes at the beginning of the study.
During the study period, the research team discovered that arsenic levels in the water increased by more than two times and that the left ventricle of the heart was increased. thickened by 47%. Hypertensive participants before the start of the study found a 60% thickening of the ventricle. A thicker heart chamber means that it can not pump enough blood, which can lead to a heart attack or stroke.
This study is important to the extent that cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of premature death in adults worldwide today and millions of people are now exposed to it. to arsenic and other metallic contaminants.
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