DOH warns residents as arsenic found in groundwater in 9 Batangas areas

The Department of Health (DOH) warned residents in a city and eight towns in Batangas as groundwater has been found positive for arsenic.

According to a report on "24 Oras" on Tuesday, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergerie said that drinking the water contaminated by arsenic could affect one's health.

"Kapag sila ang nakainom ng kontaminadong tubig na arsenic, they can be vomiting, they can be having abdominal pain, maaaring magtae, maaaring makaranas ng numbness ang kanilang extremities," Vergerie said.

(When they drink water contaminated by arsenic, they can be vomiting, they can be having abdominal pain, diarrhea, and can experience numbness in their extremities.)

"Pwede rin po ang extreme cases, kung sakaling maraming nainom at hindi naagapan, maaaring ikamatay," she added.

(Extreme cases are also possible, if you drink a lot and are not treated immediately, you can die.)

The Provincial Inter-Agency Task Force on Arsenic-Taal Volcano Protected Landscape (TVPL) said the places positive for arsenic are Laurel, Balete, San Nicolas, Mataas na Kahoy, Alitagtag, Sta. Teresita, Lemery, Taal and Tanauan City.

Experts noted that the level of arsenic in the said areas is higher than the standard or average level which is 10 parts per billion.

Arsenic was first detected in water wells after Taal Volcano erupted in January 2020. It was also detected in the waters of Taal Lake.

Meanwhile, Batangas Medical Center Toxicology chief Dr. Rhoda Reyes explained that it can cause cancer and adverse effects on human skin.

The Batangas Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, on the other hand, has released funds to help with the water tests.

The public was also advised to prevent drinking and bathing in the waters of Taal Lake.—Mel Matthew Doctor/LDF, GMA News