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

Flowing from north to

south through Burma

(Myanmar), the Irrawaddy

river is the nation’s 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

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 population—a

staple trade of Burma. Figure .2 (top) geospatial map of Myitsone damn; Figure

.3 photo of Irrawaddy dolphin

Background Information (con.)

The

Irrawaddy

River is

one of the

world’s

great rice

producing

regions

Fertile mud

and sand

have been

deposited

here during

the last 2

million

years

mangrove

forest

Sediment

plumes

Figure .4 Irrawaddy River Delta

Problems in the

Irrawaddy:

Cadmium

Problems in the Irrawaddy:

Cadmium Cadmium is a minor metallic element, one

of the naturally occurring components in

the earth’s 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.)

Figure .9 Geological map of Southeast Asia

showing the probability of arsenic

contamination in groundwater

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.

Problems in the Irrawaddy:

Health Effects of Arsenic Exposure to higher-than-

average 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 earth’s

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 children’s 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 Burma’s 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". Encyclopædia 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