Rising level of arsenic in the drinking water is increasing becoming a serious threat for the residents of Pakistan's southern as cancer, still births, post-neonatal mortality are frequently being reported in the region.
A joint research carried out by Tokyo Institute of Technology and National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) found that the water samples in the Southern Punjab were having arsenic level above 10 ppb of the WHO standards.
"The World Health Organisation (WHO) has set a standard of 10 ppb for safe drinking water in respect of arsenic whereas the level of fluorides should be less that 1.5 ppm," The Nation quoted Dr. Attiqur Rehman, postdoctoral research fellow at AIST, as saying.
Dr Attiq further said that it was a matter of great concern that even in cities like Lahore, where the WASA claimed the provision of high quality of water, the level of arsenic was almost five times higher than the WHO standards.
Source: March 1. 2010
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