Vonhelsing's blog

Contamination of water supplies by arsenic in Bangladesh

Allan H Smith, professor of epidemiology at the University of California at Berkeley, USA, et al report that a long-term epidemic of cancers and other fatal diseases is facing Bangladesh because of contamination of water supplies by naturally-occurring arsenic. The catastrophe is on a vast scale and needs to be declared a public health emergency, the article’s authors warn.

Arsenic contamination of ground water has been found in many other countries, including Argentina, Chile, China, India, Mexico, Taiwan, Thailand and the United States, and is a global problem. But Bangladesh’s plight is unprecedented, the article says - between 35 and 77 million people of the country’s total population of 125 million are at risk of exposure to arsenic in their drinking water. At least 100 000 cases of debilitating skin lesions are believed to have already occurred.

Benjamin Franklin's Thirteen Virtues.

1. TEMPERANCE. Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.
2. SILENCE. Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.
3. ORDER. Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time.
4. RESOLUTION. Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.
5. FRUGALITY. Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing.
6. INDUSTRY. Lose no time; be always employed in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.
7. SINCERITY. Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly.