Dr. Suthipong Sthiannopkao wrote in the newspaper "The Korea Herald (2008.05.28)"
 

[PHNOM PENH] -- The Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology has initiated a joint research project in Cambodia to assess the health impacts and costs of arsenic poisoning resulting from consuming contaminated groundwater and food.

The project, Collaborative Research on Health Impacts and Costs of Arsenic Poisoning in Cambodia, is led by Professor Kim Kyoung-woong and Dr. Suthipong Sthiannopkao.

Researchers from Malaysia, Cambodia, Resource Development International-Cambodia, the World Health Organization, and Hong Kong Baptist University will also participate.

In Cambodia, a country of more than 13 million people, groundwater resources are a very important source of drinking water.

Groundwater use remains popular in rural areas and in some small urban centers. More than 81 percent of the population is rural, close to 60 percent of which uses groundwater. In contrast, only 15 percent of people living in the capital, Phnom Penh, consume well water.

Groundwater is used for the towns" water supply and for irrigation. According to the Cambodian Ministry of Rural Development, groundwater is available in large quantities in most areas throughout the year. Although the geography of Cambodia is dominated by the Mekong River and the Tonle Sap, an important source of fish, as well as other rivers and streams and lakes, the groundwater resource is estimated to be close to 17.6 billion cubic meters.

Water, food and hair samples will be collected in five suspected provinces of arsenic contamination -- Kandal, Kracheh, Bat Dambang, Svay Rieng and Kampong Thum.

A health questionnaire survey and health check, as well as a food consumption survey, will also be conducted. The assessment of health risk and costs will be determined. It is expected that the outcomes obtained at the end of this project will assist the Cambodian government in managing arsenic contaminated drinking water and food in Cambodia.

According to previous studies into arsenic contamination in groundwater in the provinces of Prey Veng and Kandal, concentrations of total arsenic in groundwater ranged from not detectable up to about 900 ppb, with about 54 percent of all the samples collected (28) exceeding the WHO drinking water guide value of 10 ppb.

Arsenic speciation was dominated (80 percent) by dissolved inorganic As (III) which is more toxic to human health and also more difficult to treat than As (V). Based on these results, this international collaboration project on assessing human health impacts from arsenic contamination in groundwater and food is urgently needed. <"The Korea Herald"
2008.05.28>