Arsenic exposure through drinking water and its effect on pregnancy outcome in Bengali women

Abstract

Twelve districts of the state of West Bengal, India are affected by arsenic (As) and millions of individuals are consuming As-contaminated groundwater. The probable adverse effects of As on pregnancy outcome (stillbirth and miscarriage) are yet to be properly studied. The present investigation is an attempt to understand the effects of As exposure on the pregnancy outcome in Bengali women exposed to As through drinking water and residing in different villages in North 24 Parganas District of West Bengal. The results show a significantly higher rate of stillbirths and miscarriages than those in the unexposed population.