ISLAMABAD Southern Punjab is facing serious threat due to high-level arsenic contamination in the drinking water, which is causing cancer, still births, post-neonatal mortality and other diseases, and the geological phenomenon is believed to be the main reason of its presence in the area. Arsenic is difficult to detect while ingesting, as it is tasteless, odourless and colourless and its effects are not immediately visible. Moreover the people can absorb significant quantity of arsenic without any immediate health complications. TheNation has learnt through the results of a field verification research jointly conducted by the team of Japanese researchers from Tokyo Institute of Technology and National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) that the water samples in the Southern Punjab were having arsenic level above 10 ppb of the WHO standards, while major cities including Multan (10-100 ppb), Bhawalpur (10-70 ppb), Ahmad Pur East (10-70 ppb), Yazman (10-130 ppb), Rahim Yar Khan (10-90 ppb), Liaqat Pur, RYK (10-90 ppb) and Muzaffargarh (10-150 ppb). It would not be out of place to mention here that these test results were also confirmed the state of drinking water in these areas as declared by the Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR). Dr. Attiqur Rehman, postdoctoral research fellow at AIST and Executive Director, Urban Development and Environmental Research Centre (UDERC), Japan, told TheNation that in a recent field-testing survey of groundwater contamination in Punjab, it was found that the most of the cities of the Southern Punjab were badly affected with high level of arsenic and fluorides. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has set a standard of 10 ppb for safe drinking water in respect of arsenic whereas the level of fluorides should be less that 1.5 ppm, he maintained. It is pertinent to mention here that in many studies conducted in different countries like Taiwan, Bangladesh, etc, it is generally agreed that water with arsenic contamination above 10 ppb is carcinogenic that causing cancer. Dr Attiq further said that it was a matter of great concern that even in cities like Lahore, where the WASA claimed the provision of high quality of water, the level of arsenic was almost five times higher than the WHO standards. The reason of high level of cadmium is not known, he said, however the presence of arsenic and fluoride is considered as geological phenomenon. Groundwater contamination is also associated with the extensive use of pesticides and insecticides for agricultural purpose in these areas. Talking about the recent study carried out by his organisation, he said, While we travelling alongside the Multan Road, we can find increasing level of both arsenic and fluorides at varying depth of the sources of drinking water. One such case is found in the Village Chahklalanwala situated along Multan Road, Managa Mandi (Opposite Honda Car Manufacturing Plant, around 50 Km from Lahore). It may be mentioned here that PCRWR, in its official website (http://www.pcrwr.gov.pk/Arsenic_SP/ASP_Hlt_efcts.htm) clearly acknowledged that arsenic contaminated water may lead to serious health hazards when used for drinking, washing and food preparations. The effects are not immediately visible and people can absorb significant quantities of arsenic without any immediate health complications. Generally, a healthy person will withstand the arsenic poison for a longer period than an undernourished or weak person who will perish quickly. Similarly, children are more vulnerable sensitive. Arsenic can damage the nervous system and is also carcinogenic as it can cause various types of cancer. Most common diseases caused by high level of arsenic in drinking water include cancer of the lungs, bladder, skin, prostate, kidney, nose and liver , Still births, Post neonatal mortality , Ischemic heart diseases (heart attack) ,diabetes mellitus ,nephritis (chronic inflammation of kidneys) ,nephritis (degenerative kidney diseases) ,hypertension, hypersensitive heart disease ,emphysema, bronchitis ,chronic airway obstruction , lymphoma (tumors in the lymph) , black foot disease and developmental deficit. It is also worthy to note here that statistical analysis of the increasing number of patients in Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre shows an alarming situation. The issue needs urgent attention of the Government agencies responsible for planning and provision of basic infrastructure services including water and sanitation. According to the official statistics of this hospital by the year 2008, a total of 76,250 patients were registered in this hospital. 197,730 patients were given chemotherapy treatment, 33,789 patients were surgically operated, 362,579 patients got radiation therapy, 717,562 got imaging studies, 12,777,051 pathology tests were conducted in this hospital whereas pharmacy was dispense to 5,416,988 patients. There is a need to conduct some research to determine the relation of high rate of cancer patients from those areas where arsenic and fluoride level is very high, Dr. Attiq said. However, it is generally understood by the researchers that among other push and pull factors, this hospital attracted high number of patients from districts of the Southern Punjab where high level of arsenic is present.