Background More than 140 million people drink arsenic-contaminated groundwater. It is unknown how much arsenic exposure is necessary to cause neurological impairment. Here, we evaluate the relationship between neurological impairments and the arsenic concentration in drinking water (ACDW). Participants and methods A cross-sectional study design was employed. We performed medical examinations of 1867 residents in seven villages in the Thabaung township in Myanmar. Medical examinations consisted of interviews regarding subjective neurological symptoms and objective neurological examinations of sensory disturbances. For subjective neurological symptoms, we ascertained the presence or absence of defects in smell, vision, taste, and hearing; the feeling of weakness; and chronic numbness or pain. For objective sensory disturbances, we examined defects in pain sensation, vibration sensation, and two-point discrimination. We analyzed the relationship between the subjective symptoms, objective sensory disturbances, and ACDW. Results Residents with ACDW ≥ 10 parts per billion (ppb) had experienced a “feeling of weakness” and “chronic numbness or pain” significantly more often than those with ACDW < 10 ppb. Residents with ACDW ≥ 50 ppb had three types of sensory disturbances significantly more often than those with ACDW < 50 ppb. In children, there was no significant association between symptoms or signs and ACDW. Conclusion Subjective symptoms, probably due to peripheral neuropathy, occurred at very low ACDW (around 10 ppb). Objective peripheral nerve disturbances of both small and large fibers occurred at low ACDW (> 50 ppb). These data suggest a threshold for the occurrence of peripheral neuropathy due to arsenic exposure, and indicate that the arsenic concentration in drinking water should be less than 10 ppb to ensure human health.

. Melioidosis is a tropical infection, first described in Myanmar but now rarely diagnosed there, which is widespread in Southeast Asia. The infection is predominantly acquired by people and animals through contact with soil or water. This study aimed to detect the causative organism, Burkholderia pseudomallei , in environmental samples from farms in Thanlyin and Hmawbi townships near Yangon, Myanmar. One hundred and twenty soil samples and 12 water samples were collected and processed using standard microbiological methods. Burkholderia species were isolated from 50 of the 120 (42%) soil samples but none of the water samples. Arabinose assimilation was tested to differentiate between B. pseudomallei and the nonpathogenic Burkholderia thailandensis , and seven of 50 isolates (14%) were negative. These were all confirmed as B. pseudomallei by a species-specific multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR). This is the first study to detect environmental B. pseudomallei in Myanmar and confirms that melioidosis is still endemic in the Yangon area.

Arsenic contamination of tube well water has become the greatest health threat to the people. This cross-sectional analytic study aimed to find out the prevalence of arsenic contaminated wells in selected areas of Kyaunggon Township, to increase the arsenic awareness and to construct the low-cost arsenic reducing Gravel Sand Filter (GSF) for household use. The water samples were tested for arsenic and other parameters. About 66% (63/96) tube wells of depth between 12 to 183 meters had arsenic concentration more than 10 ppb and moreover 42 out of 63 tube wells had depth between 30 to 90 meters. Therefore, this depth range should be avoided for tube well construction in that area. About 67.7 % (65/96) had iron concentration more than 0.3 ppm, 74 % (71/96) had manganese concentration more than 0.4 ppm and 4.1 % (4/96) had phosphate concentration more than 4 ppm according to WHO drinking water quality guideline. These results were disseminated to basic health staff, teachers and students from respective areas. GSF was constructed and demonstrated to villagers. Widely using of this removal method in arsenic contaminated areas will partly contribute towards the safe water supply and promote the community health.

People use their drinking water sources from surface water or ground water. Contaminants including heavy metals have found their way into water supplies due to inadequate treatment and disposal of waste and industrial discharges. The present study aimed to assess the water quality parameters including heavy metals in drinking water from 120 tube wells in 6 townships (Aung-Myay-Tharzan, Chan-Aye-Tharzan, Chan-Mya-Tharzi, Mahar-Aung-Myay, Pyigyi-Tagon and Amarapura) of Mandalay region, Myanmar. Lovibond Water Testing (Photometer SpectroDirect) was used for testing turbidity, total hardness, chloride, cyanide and nitrite. Acidity (pH), electrical conductivity and total dissolved solids were tested by Pocket Pro™ Tester. Arsenic, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, mercury, lead and zinc were analyzed by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. Turbidity and pH in 5 out of 6 townships, total dissolved solids in 4 townships and electrical conductivity in 3 townships were higher than MPL in some samples but the other remaining parameters were complied with WHO limit. The levels of iron in all townships, manganese in 3 townships, arsenic and lead in 1 township respectively were detected in some samples more than the maximum permissible limit (MPL) of WHO and other metals were within MPL. Therefore, the quality of drinking water should be assessed constantly.