A new bill targets a silent but very dangerous problem for all humans: arsenic in the drinking water supply.
According to a recent study by the Buenos Aires Institute of Technology (ITBA), various areas of the Buenos Aires province show alarming levels of arsenic.
It is important to highlight that arsenic poses a great risk to human health, and prolonged exposure to it can even cause cancer and other health complications.
Arsenic in Buenos Aires water: the most affected areas
In particular, the ITBA heat map shows that concentrations of the toxic semimetal in nearly 10 Buenos Aires municipalities exceed the limits recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) for daily drinking water consumption.
The news affects various localities in the suburbs, including La Plata. However, in the capital city, only caution is indicated (yellow color, 12 ppb) in the area between Parque Saavedra and Plaza Presidente Hipólito Yrigoyen.
In reality, the most affected areas are:
- 9 de Julio
- Chivilcoy
- Roque Pérez
- Mercedes
- San Miguel del Monte
- Cañuelas
- Longchamps
- San Vicente
- General Belgrano
In general, the province of Buenos Aires is one of the most affected in the country by the presence of this toxic chemical element in the water.
The legislative project that seeks to highlight a silent health crisis
In response to this scenario, a new bill presented by Buenos Aires legislator Sabrina Sabat seeks to protect the human consumption of water with arsenic.
The legislator proposes the creation of a real-time interactive map to monitor arsenic levels in the water throughout the province of Buenos Aires.
The bill presented in the Buenos Aires Legislature seeks for this tool to be publicly accessible, free, and unrestricted.
The goal is to allow for the constant monitoring and updating of arsenic levels and other contaminants in the provincial territory.
“The issue of arsenic in water intended for human consumption is a silent health crisis affecting vast regions of our country, particularly the province of Buenos Aires,” explained Sabat.
The risk of consuming arsenic in water
Arsenic in water represents a significant risk to public health.
Prolonged exposure to this contaminant can cause various health problems, from skin conditions to cardiovascular diseases and an increased risk of cancer.
According to ITBA, sustained ingestion over time of arsenic-contaminated water “increases the risk of developing a clinical condition known as Chronic Regional Endemic Hydroarsenicism (HACRE).” Without treatment, this condition can lead to severe pathologies.
Associated conditions include lung cancer, laryngeal cancer, chronic and/or persistent cough, and pulmonary fibrosis. Early detection is crucial to prevent complications.
Residents who suspect their water contains arsenic can bring a sample in a plastic bottle to ITBA at Iguazú 341 (Buenos Aires City) between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., after completing an online form.
“Samples are measured in batches, meaning once we have a significant number of samples, we proceed with their measurement,” ITBA reported. They added for citizens: “When this occurs, we will communicate the results via email.”
The obtained data is subsequently uploaded to the map with the provided location.
