Arsenic is a very abundant, gray metal-like material which is a naturally occurring, extremely poisonous element found in the earth's crust. According to the national Resources Defense Council, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, more than 34 million Americans in at least 25 states, drink tap water supplied by systems containing average levels of arsenic. Arsenic occurs in all three states of matter, liquid, solid and gas, which makes it prone to accumulate almost anywhere on earth; snow covered mountains, lakes, rivers and streams, as well as in the atmosphere. Arsenic is a growing problem in the world's drinking water and must be addressed promptly with an effective policy. President Bush's council admits that he " could have handled the environmental issue a little better.".
Arsenic has been recognized as a poison since ancient times. It is found naturally occurring in the Earth's crust. Arsenic can get into lakes, rivers, and underground water bodies through many different processes. Arsenic can naturally contaminate groundwater, when mineral deposits or rocks containing arsenic dissolve and drain into aquifers. Arsenic has also been found to be released into the environment through the burning of fossil fuels such as coal and oil. Many other industrial processes such as metal production, base mining, and petroleum refining have been shown to release arsenic as a byproduct. Agricultural use is another leading producer of arsenic. It is found in many common pesticides and feed additives as well as in burning of agricultural waste. The particles of arsenic in the air go through the process of deposition and attach themselves to rain and snow. Rain and snow eventually go through the water cycle and finally end up in major lakes or streams or in the ground water. .
Arsenic has many serious health affects, especially when one has prolonged exposure to it. Long-term exposure over years of drinking arsenic contaminated water containing high levels of arsenic (.
The arsenic can also cause fatigue and an abnormal heart rhythm. ... Long-term exposure to arsenic will cause chronic health problems. ... The other 96 women were not exposed to the arsenic. ... The best way is to test your water for arsenic. ... Wells are more likely to have arsenic contamination. ...
Because there was no law mandating checks for arsenic in tube-well projects, tests for arsenic were not conducted until several years after. ... In 1993, arsenic was first found in the tube-wells by Department of Public Health Engineering of Bangladesh but it was widely denied until international arsenic conference in Dhaka in February 1998(Chakraborti,2015). As of 2009, the Bangladesh Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey estimated that 27.6 million people still drank water with high levels of arsenic. The issue is especially serious because of the length of time it takes for arsenic poisoning...
The article cites some of the health effects of arsenic poisoning, stating that effects of arsenic poisoning are slow to arise, but can be deadly (Rahman, 2002). ... These two symptoms represent the most prominent threats when dealing with arsenic, although the study also cites rising mortality rates, likely at least partially attributable to the arsenic in water (Rahman, 2002). ... The second main health concern in relation to the arsenic poisoning cited in the study is the lack of knowledge as to what, exactly, this exposure to arsenic actually does to the citizens of Bangladesh. Much like c...
When it came time for Miss Emily to purchase the arsenic that she would later give to Homer Barron and cause his death, she visited the druggist. ... The druggist, following regulations on the arsenic, informed Miss Emily that "the law requires you to tell what you are going to use it for" (625). Miss Emily remained silent "stared at him eye for eye, until he looked away and went and got the arsenic and wrapped it up" (625). As if to cover himself for dispensing the arsenic the druggist labeled the poison "For Rats" (625). ...
She uses that authority over the townspeople and it is shown by her visit to the druggist, there she buys arsenic poison. The salesmen ignore the laws, which require Emily to tell him why she is buying the arsenic poison. "Miss Emily just stared at him, her head tilted back in order to look him eye to eye, until he looked away and went and got the arsenic and wrapped it up" (pg.77). ...
(Faulkner, 58) Emily asked for arsenic, but the druggist explained that for such a poison she would have to give her intentions. "Miss Emily just stared at him, her head tilted back in order to look him in the eye for eye, until he looked away and went and got the arsenic and wrapped it up." (Faulkner, 58) The speculation of both the reader and the townspeople was that the arsenic was purchased on the basis of suicide. The arsenic was not however used for Miss Emily to kill herself. ... (Faulkner, 61) Miss Emily had used the arsenic, not to kill her, but the man who she loved and did ...
As Homer Barron symbolizes the new generation Miss Emily doesn't want to lose to the new generation and her love so she buys the arsenic. Miss Emily becomes mentally ill as she buys the arsenic to kill Homer Barron because she cannot bear to give up their relationship. ... Miss Emily used the servant to take her to get the arsenic in which she used to kill Homer Barron. ...
This happens as she denies her father's death, refuses to discuss or pay taxes, ignores town gossip about her being a fallen woman, and does not tell the druggist why she is purchasing arsenic. ... She knew when she bought the arsenic poison what her intentions were. ... She only speaks few words and she persuades the druggist to let her purchase arsenic, a deadly poison. ...
