Background and Objectives: Health hazard due to arsenic contamination of ground water is a major problem in West Bengal. An epidemiological study was conducted in Murshidabad, one of the severely arsenic affected district of West Bengal. Prevalence of arsenicosis along with quality of drinking water and its availability to the people have also been assessed. Methods: A population based cross sectional study was done inthree arsenic affected blocks of Murshidabad. Identification of arsenicosis cases was done Water from household tube well and other sources was tested for arsenic and availability of safe water was assessed. Results: 812 cases of arsenicosis with typical skin lesion and 14 cases of suspected skin cancers were detected out of 6229 participants examined in 2340households studied in three arsenic affected blocks of Murshidabad. Out of 890 household water samples tested 57% samples were found to be contaminated with arsenic (>0.01mg/L). Out of 85 habitations surveyed, 51 habitations had pipelines for supplying arsenic safe water. However, supply was regular in 28 habitations only. Conclusion: Significant number of arsenicosis and cancer cases were identified in Murshidabad district. Large number of home tube wells were found contaminated with arsenic. In spite of presence of Government tube wells and pipelines in arsenic affected habitations, safe water was not available to most people.
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