Effect of high arsenic content in drinking water on rat brain
Chaudhuri, A.N.; Basu, S.; Chattopadhyay, S.; Das Gupta, S.
Indian Journal of Biochemistry and Biophysics 36(1): 51-54
1999
ISSN/ISBN: 0301-1208 PMID: 10549161 Document Number: 507140
The permissible limit of arsenic content in drinking water is 0.05 ppm, whereas, in many parts of West Bengal the arsenic level in drinking water is 0.1 ppm, frequently 0.3 ppm and even 3.0 ppm, though rarely. In order to assess possible risk to brain function by drinking such water, rats were given arsenic mixed in drinking water at the above four concentrations for 40 days. There was increased lipid peroxidation at all doses of arsenic, including the 'permissible limit', decrease in glutathione level, superoxide dismutase and glutathione reductase activities, indicating the free-radical-mediated degeneration of brain.