The WHO permissible limit for arsenic in drinking water is 0.01 mg/L. Chronic arsenic toxicity from groundwater in Bangladesh and West Bengal most characteristically causes:

• A Arsenical keratosis, Mees' lines, Bowen's disease, and blackfoot disease ✓
• B Fluorosis with dental mottling and skeletal deformities
• C Raynaud's phenomenon and vasospastic angina
• D Peripheral neuropathy, hearing loss, and Fanconi syndrome

Explanation

Chronic inorganic arsenic poisoning from contaminated groundwater (arsenicosis) produces: diffuse keratosis of palms and soles (arsenical keratosis), transverse white lines on nails (Mees' or Aldrich–Mees' lines), Bowen's disease (skin SCC in situ), and blackfoot disease (peripheral vascular disease causing gangrene, named from Taiwan). It also causes hyperpigmentation with raindrop depigmentation, hepatic fibrosis, and internal cancers (lung, bladder, skin). Fluorosis causes dental and skeletal fluorosis; Raynaud's is from vibration injury.

Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.