ARSENIC POLLUTION IN BANGLADESH

Arsenic poisoning has emerged as a fresh blow to Bangladesh, a country of 130 million population, known as a land of frequent natural calamities. Recent surveys showed that about 80 million people of the country are living under the risk of Arsenic poisoning as the groundwater of a vast region contaminated with Arsenic the Arsenic pollution is not only causing serious health hazard to the people, but also affecting the environment and creating social problems.

Arsenic poisoning was first detected in Bangladesh in 1993 by the Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE). But the fact remained behind the screen till 1996. According to the latest surveys conducted at both Government levels, at least 53 out of the total 64 districts of Bangladesh are affected with Arsenic pollution.

More than 2 million Tube-wells are presently being used as the source of drinking water in Bangladesh. Out of those, only 50,000 have so far been brought under investigation by various Government and non-Government agencies. The rest are still beyond the survey. The actual picture of the severity of Arsenic pollution is yet to be revealed as the entire country could not be surveyed till now.

The Arsenic poisoning has mainly been detected through testing samples of tube-well water and human tissues-hair, nail, skin and urine. Regular intake of Arsenic at higher level through food and drinking water causes various diseases, especially skin diseases. Arsenic causes both physical and intellectual damage to the human beings.

Since the very beginning, Dhaka Community Hospital (DCH) has been playing the leading role in school of Environmental Studies (SOES) of Jadavpur University, Calcutta is actively collaborating with the DCH in the survey and research works in this field. On the part of Government, National Institute of Preventive and Social Medicine (NIPSOM), an organization engaged in health related activities, and the Department of Public health Engineering (DPHE) has taken the key role to identify the Arsenic patients and determine the extent and severity of the problem. In 1994, a national committee was formed to deal with Arsenic problem. Country's leading experts and the representatives of Environment Department, water Development Board, universities, WHO and UNICEF. In 1996 the Government abolished the national committee and formed three new committees. These are the national steering committee headed by Health Minister, Arsenic Technical Commute and Scientific Research Committee. But the Progress of Government activities to check Arsenic pollution is not satisfactory. Millions of people are facing the danger of Arsenic pollution and a large number of them are still in darkness about the problem.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has fixed a recommended value at 0.01 milligram Arsenic for per liter of water. It also set a maximum permissible limit of 0.05 mg/l. Under the survey, conducted by the DCH and SOES, tube-well water of suspected areas of Bangladesh were tested in laboratory. It is matter of great concern that in many cases the Arsenic concentration in the Groundwater crosses the WHO recommended value and maximum permissible limit.

The West Bengal State of India, which surrounds Bangladesh's west and north border, is also an Arsenic-affected zone because of the geological similarity. But the situation in Bangladesh is more alarming compared to West Bengal, according to experts. In West Bengal, SOES tested water samples of 40000 tube-wells in the affected area and found 58 tube -wells containing above 1.0-milligram Arsenic in per liter of water. On the other hand, some 6101 tube-wells were examined in the affected areas of Bangladesh by DCH-SOES and 75 tube-wells were found with such a high level of Arsenic concentration. Luxmipur, Nawabganj and Faridpur districts were identified as the most affected areas of the country where a large number of people have already been affected with various diseases caused by Arsenic poisoning.

The Arsenic pollution has been creating serious social problems for the affected people. They virtually become isolated from the society as nobody want to keep any social contact with them. Nobody wants to marry any Arsenic affected made of female. Some affected housewives were even divorced by their husbands. Affected school children become victims of avoidance by their teachers and classmates and are not allowed to attend their classes. Due to ignorance, the villagers consider Arsenical diseases as the curse of nature. They do not allow the Arsenic patients at social functions. The Arsenic affected villages also become isolated zone.

After conducting extensive surveys and research in the affected areas. Experts suggested for undertaking motive awareness building program on Arsenic pollution, reducing use of groundwater for drinking purpose and increasing the use of safe surface water to avert diseases caused by Arsenic poisoning. They identified indiscriminate withdrawal of groundwater as of the major causes of Arsenic pollution and suggested for finding out alternative source of safe drinking water. Regular testing of tube-well water at intervals and examination of suspected patients at the affected areas are also included in their suggestions. A government-NGO concerted effort is essential to combat the problem, they observe, Moreover, Bangladesh has not enough resources to implement such a huge task. The country does not have any modern laboratory capable to test water and examine the samples collected from Arsenic patients. Without continues assistance from the donor community and international organizations, it is impossible for the country to resolve the problem alone.

Arsenic pollution is now considered as a great threat to the future generation of the country. Bangladesh has emerged as the most vulnerable palace with regards to Arsenic pollution as the extent and spread of the problem have taken a serious turn. We have already become the victims of Arsenic poisoning and are pushing our next generation in to a more dangerous situation. So, this is the high time to be aware of the problem and take steps to combat the Spread of Arsenic pollution. Otherwise, nothing could stop this silent killer.

For the past two decades the water from over a million tube-wells has been slowly poisoning Bangladeshi villagers with naturally occurring arsenic. Over 18 millions people are drinking this poisoned water daily.

Arsenic is naturally occurring in pyrite bedrock underlying much of West Bengal. The poisoning began to occur as millions of kiloliters of water was being pumped out from deep within underground reservoirs. As a result the water level dropped and exposed the arsenic-bearing pyrite to air leading to oxidisation, a reaction which flushed arsenic into the remaining water.

Arsenic is a slow killer that accumulates in the body resulting in nails rotting, dark spots, bleeding sores, swelling, large warts and a form of gangrene. It is carcinogen increasing the risk of skin cancer and tumors of the bladder, kidney, liver and lungs.

Villagers in Jampukkur, first noticed something was wrong in the 1970’s when dark spots spread across their bodies. They finally learned they were drinking arsenic contaminated water in 1993 when official tests showed 95% of the village wells were contaminated.

As a result of widespread water contamination domestic abuse has become just one of the social costs. There are now many reports of broken marriage, as husbands send disfigured wives back to their parents. In Jampukkur, many young men and women don’t get married at all. Some people think the poison can be passed on from parent to child so many arsenic poisoned women have problems finding husbands.