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Arsenic in drinking water and mortality in the Southern Great Plain, Hungary

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Abstract

Arsenic distribution has been found in drinking waters. A connection between arsenic and other constituents of water was determined. Close positive correlation was found between arsenic and humic substances over most of the study area. In two smaller areas, there was no correlation between arsenic and humic substances. In these waters, the arsenic distribution is not controlled by organic matter, but by other factors which need further investigations.

Examination of mortality in the populations consuming water containing levels of arsenic above and below that permitted did not show any significant differences in standardised mortality ratio (SMR) from all causes of death for both male and female. The SMR from the main causes of death — diseases of the circulatory system and neoplasms — shows controversial results for males and females.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Mineralogy, Geochemistry and Petrology, Szeged, Hungary

    Irén Varsányi

  2. Public Health Department of Csongrád county, Szeged, Hungary

    Zsófia Fodré

  3. Hungarian Geological Institute, Budapest, Hungary

    András Bartha

Authors
  1. Irén Varsányi
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  2. Zsófia Fodré
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  3. András Bartha
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Varsányi, I., Fodré, Z. & Bartha, A. Arsenic in drinking water and mortality in the Southern Great Plain, Hungary. Environ Geochem Health 13, 14–22 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01783491

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01783491

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