Application of a geographic information system in the investigation of arsenic poisoning in Qinghai Province

Abstract

Objective To establish and apply the geographic information systems (GIS) in endemic arsenism affected areas, and to understand the spatial distribution of arsenic in drinking water of endemic arsenic poisoning areas in Qinghai Province. Methods According to The Investigation of Endemic Arsenic Poisoning Programme in China and the Central Subsidy to Local Public Health Funding Programme for Endemic Disease Control, we collected data from investigations on drinking water type arsenic poisoning in Qinghai Province from 2000 to 2009, using the geographic information technology software, to establish GIS database of endemic arsenic poisoning in Qinghai Province, and to apply the GIS database, in drawing the distribution of water arsenic and space distribution of higher arsenic water sources in Qinghai Province. Results The distribution of water arsenic and space distribution of higher arsenic water sources in Qinghai Province was dawn using GIS. We investigated a total of 35 counties (cities), 11 counties water arsenic 0.05 mg/L. Conclusions We have successfully established a GIS of endemic arsenic poisoning and carried out a preliminary application. Therefore, the spatial distribution of drinking water arsenic could be intuitive understood through the spatial distribution map in Qinghai Province. Key words: Arsenic poisoning; Geographic information system; Spatial distribution