blackfoot disease
Blackfoot disease (BFD) is a severe form of peripheral vascular disease
(PVD), in which the blood vessels in the lower limbs are severely
damaged, resulting eventually in progressive gangrene. It has been
observed in certain areas along the southwestern coast of Taiwan where the average concentration of
dissolved arsenic in the wells is 671 ± 149 µg/L with an average
As(III)/As(V) ratio of 2.6. The first symptons of the disease are the
spottet discoloration of the skin on the feet that turns from brown to
black as the disease develops until amputation of the affected
extremities, the final resort to save the BFD victims, becomes
necesaary.
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