Arsenic in water for 140 million people

140 million people in 70 countries are at risk from high levels of arsenic in their drinking water. Reuters reported from a Royal Geographical Society (RGS)meeting in London.

According to a BBC website small does of Arsenic may be beneficial - thinning the blood and sending some cancers into remission. However, larger doses will cause death fairly quickly. Repeated exposure is more likely to result in cancer of the skin, lungs, bladder and kidney. A more detailed analysis may be found here and here from the WHO.