• Chronic exposure to Arsenic could lead to a silent pandemic affecting people globally.  

• The study reiterated that the effects of arsenic poisoning on cognition are more severe in the undernourished and poor. 

• Urine samples of study participants were tested for arsenic content and results were correlated to the performance of the participants in computerized tests of cognition and brain imaging.

• The study was conducted among 1014 participants from across 5 regions of India.

• Arsenic exposure was closely correlated with food intake for study participants, in many parts of India outside of those where arsenic exposure from groundwater is known to be high.

•  Since the 1990s, both the Central and State governments of Bihar and West Bengal (2 of the most arsenic-prone areas of the country along with Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Manipur) have actively strived to curb arsenic contamination. 

•  A common strategy implemented included:

1. Restricting groundwater extraction 

2. Encouraging piped water supply.

3. Arsenic removal plants where groundwater extraction was inevitable.