The Irrawaddy River:

Inorganic Chemicals and Health Perspective

Author: Veatasha H. Dorsey Spring 2011 BIOL2700.01-Environmental Problems Instructor: Dr. Amal Abu-Shakra March 19, 2011

Irrawaddy River Presentation Outline

Background Information Problems in the Irrawaddy

Inorganic chemicals and health perspective

Cadmium Arsenic Lead

Summary Sources

Background Information

Background Information
Flowing from north to south through Burma (Myanmar), the Irrawaddy river is the nations largest river and principal commercial waterway. The river is approximately 2,170 km (1,348 mi) in length with an average discharge of 13,000 m3/s.
Figure.1 Map of Irrawaddy River

Background Information (con.)

The Irrawaddy is home to approximately 43 animal species, including the Irrawaddy dolphin, which most assume to be endangered due to the building of the Myitsone Dam on the river. Another consequence spawning from the building of the Myitsone dam include loss of farmland which drastically effects the rice populationa staple trade of Burma.
Figure .2 (top) geospatial map of Myitsone damn; Figure .3 photo of Irrawaddy dolphin

Background Information (con.)

Sediment plumes mangrove forest

The Irrawaddy River is one of the worlds great rice producing regions
Figure .4 Irrawaddy River Delta

Fertile mud and sand have been deposited here during the last 2 million years

Problems in the Irrawaddy: Cadmium

Problems in the Irrawaddy: Cadmium

Cadmium is a minor metallic element, one of the naturally occurring components in the earths crust and waters, and present everywhere in our environment.

Figure .5 and .6 Cadmium element

Problems in the Irrawaddy: Cadmium (con.)

The Thai zinc mining company Padaeng Industry Plc has rejected allegations that its operations in Tak bordering the Irrawaddy are the cause of high levels of cadmium in water and villagers blood. The allegation linking the mining with the high cadmium levels was made by the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand. The commission has assisted villagers in Mae Tao and other villages to have blood tests. Results shows that 700 of them have high cadmium levels. The commission says 12 villages in Mae Sot district with populations of Thais and settled Karen are affected by cadmium.

Problems in the Irrawaddy: Health Effects of Cadmium

Exposure to certain forms and concentrations of cadmium is known to produce toxic effects on humans. Long-term occupational exposure to cadmium at excess concentrations can cause adverse health effects on the kidneys and lungs. The potential risks from cadmium exposure have been extensively studied, and are now tightly controlled by occupational exposure standards, regulations for cadmium in ambient air, water and soil, and legislation covering cadmium emissions, labeling and disposal of cadmium-containing products, and impurity levels in other products such as fossil fuels, fertilizers and cement.

Problems in the Irrawaddy: Arsenic

Problems in the Irrawaddy: Arsenic

Arsenic occurs naturally in the environment as an element of the earth's crust. Arsenic is combined with other elements such as oxygen, chlorine, and sulfur to form inorganic arsenic compounds.

Figure .7 and .8: Examples of Arsenic

Problems in the Irrawaddy: Arsenic (con.)

A 2002 survey of 25 villages in the Irrawady river region found high levels of arsenic in 67% of the wells examined.
Decontamination plants installed at wells throughout the Irrawaddy are failing to reduce arsenic in local drinking water to safe levels, according to a report. Some scholars suggest that efforts to supply safe water should instead focus on purifying surface water.

Figure .9 Geological map of Southeast Asia showing the probability of arsenic contamination in groundwater

Problems in the Irrawaddy: Health Effects of Arsenic

Exposure to higher-thanaverage levels of arsenic occurs mainly in workplaces, near or in hazardous waste sites, and areas with high levels naturally occurring in soil, rocks, and water. Exposure to high levels of arsenic can cause death. Exposure to arsenic at low levels for extended periods of time can cause a discoloration of the skin and the appearance of small corns or warts.

Figure .10 and .11 Examples of Lesions caused by arsenic exposure

Problems in the Irrawaddy: Lead

Problems in the Irrawaddy: Lead

Lead is a highly toxic metal found in small amounts in the earths crust. Because of its abundance, low cost, and physical properties, lead and lead compounds have been used in a wide variety of products including paint, ceramics, pipes, solders, gasoline, batteries, and cosmetics which could leak into surface runoff in rivers

Figure .12 and .13 Examples of Lead

Problems in the Irrawaddy: Lead (con.)

Health workers say that children are more vulnerable to lead poisoning and that at least twenty children died in Mergui, along the Irrawaddy river, in 2010 from lead poisoning and seven children in March this year. Local health workers said they suspect that the soil in Mergui could be high in lead, because there are several nearby not only mines, but also seafood industries using chemicals and dyes that contain lead.

Problems in the Irrawaddy: Health Effects of Lead Poisoning

While extreme lead exposure can cause a variety of neurological disorders such as lack of muscular coordination, convulsions and coma, much lower lead levels have been associated with measurable changes in childrens mental development and behavior.
These include hyperactivity; deficits in fine motor function, hand-eye coordination, and reaction time; and lowered performance on intelligence tests. Chronic lead exposure in adults can result in increased blood pressure, decreased fertility, cataracts, nerve disorders, muscle and joint pain, and memory or concentration problems.

Summary

Summary
The Irrawaddy River still remains Myanmar's lifeline, the people and economy ever dependent on its vital natural source The river supports a population of over three million people and provides nearly 60% of Burmas total rice production. Inorganic chemicals, such as cadmium, arsenic and lead disrupt viable drinking water and rice production in the Irrawaddy river delta. Each of these chemicals cause major problems to human health, mainly by accumulating and thereby disrupting functions in vital organs and glands such as the heart, brain, kidneys, bone, liver, etc.

Sources
James R Penn (2001) Rivers of the World. Santa Barbara, Calif. [u.a.] ABC-Clio ISBN 1-57607-042-5 9781576070420. UNC & GNRDC Composite Runoff Fields for the Irrawaddy. "Irrawaddy River - hydrology". Encyclopdia Britannica. "Low Water Level in Irrawaddy Threatens Commercial Port Democratic Voice of Burma. "Shallow Irrawaddy". Today in Myanmar. Water Resources eAtlas page 2. 1995 data, List of fish species in the Ayeyarwady World Wildlife website on Myanmar Coast mangroves World Wildlife website on Irrawaddy Swamp Forests