Assessing Arsenic Contamination Awareness of Groundwater Dependent Residents in the Hanoi Area, Vietnam

Abstract

Various levels of arsenic have been found in the groundwater in the Hanoi area for the past 10 years. In some areas, arsenic levels are extremely above the standard level of drinking water. There is a large scale threat of arsenic poisoning in the Hanoi area and the risk is high because residents still use arsenic-contaminated water for their daily consumption with little or no treatment. The objectives of this study are to assess knowledge of residents regarding arsenic contamination, and to determine the relationship between arsenic knowledge and respondent’s socio-economic and demographic characteristics. A household questionnaire interview was used to assess a respondent’s knowledge regarding fundamental concerns about arsenic contamination problem. Three communes with low, medium and high arsenic levels in the groundwater were selected. This study found that awareness of residents in the three areas was low. Location, gender, occupation, household annual income and the level of education significantly influenced resident’s knowledge about arsenic contamination. Farmer, laborer, people with a low income and education, and women had the lowest levels of awareness These findings would be useful for the government in preventing and mitigating arsenic poisoning in specific high arsenic risk areas and in groups such as farmer, laborer, woman, and people with a low income and education.