Millions in grip of arsenic poisoning

Around 20 million people using tube-wells in 61 districts are leading a precarious life because of arsenicosis and pure water scarcity.
Arsenicosis, a disease caused by drinking arsenic-contaminated water, may lead to a very painful death. Around 4,000 cases of arsenicosis patients have been identified in Bangladesh till date.
“Around 90 per cent of our rural population are exposed to health hazards for using arsenic-contaminated water. Women are being more affected, which is increasingly damaging their fertility,” according to research report conducted by a non-government organisation (NGO).
In 1991, the government planned to dig at least one pond in every village to increase the supply of pure drinking water. However, the initiative was not implemented because of lack of available land and resources, said sources. Besides, the authorities concerned had failed to free the khash ponds from the clutch of politically influential persons, they added.
“Normally people suffering from malnutrition are affected by arsenicosis. Many NGOs and the government departments concerned have supplied different equipment to free the water from arsenic. But it's not enough to stop the menace,” SMA Rashid, executive director of NGO Forum, told The Independent.
Arsenic and iron removal plant (AIRA) and various filters have been given in many arsenic-contaminated areas, he said.
“A survey, conducted in 2003, revealed that hundreds of tube-wells in rural areas have high arsenic concentration and many more are feared to have been contaminated with the same. So far, 50,000 tube-wells have been tested, and 63 per cent of them have been found to be contaminated by unacceptable concentrations of arsenic. Bangladesh has recognised the acceptable limit of arsenic concentration in water at 0.05 milligram/liter. Many people are suffering from arsenicosis and a large number are exposed to the risk,” said AKM Ibrahim, project director of arsenic contamination mitigation projects.
The government has not taken any programme to conduct a survey on arsenic-contaminated tube-wells and patients at this moment, he told The Independent.
“The government didn’t approve the project to dig one pond in every village. Besides, it is tough to free the khash ponds from the lease-holders,” he added.
Experts noted that high population density is one of major factors for the extensive use of land, forest, and fisheries and the water resources, which is leading to severe environmental pressure, such as intense cultivation, that threatens soil fertility and swamps the country with agrochemicals and causes excessive extraction of water for irrigation by depressing the water table. Besides, flood control measures are blocking fish migration paths and commercial fish farming is flooding agricultural land with salt water, they observed.
They said pollution of groundwater by arsenic has created an alarming situation for the country's public health.

Millions in grip of arsenic poisoning

Around 20 million people using tube-wells in 61 districts are leading a precarious life because of arsenicosis and pure water scarcity. Arsenicosis, a disease caused by drinking arsenic-contaminated water, may lead to a very painful death. Around 4,000 cases of arsenicosis patients have been identified in Bangladesh till date. Around 90 per cent of our rural population are exposed to health hazards for using arsenic-contaminated water. Women are being more affected, which is increasingly damaging their fertility, according to research report conducted by a non-government organisation (NGO). In 1991, the government planned to dig at least one pond in every village to increase the supply of pure drinking water. However, the initiative was not implemented because of lack of available land and resources, said sources. Besides, the authorities concerned had failed to free the khash ponds from the clutch of politically influential persons, they added. Normally people suffering from malnutrition are affected by arsenicosis. Many NGOs and the government departments concerned have supplied different equipment to free the water from arsenic. But its not enough to stop the menace, SMA Rashid, executive director of NGO Forum, told The Independent. Arsenic and iron removal plant (AIRA) and various filters have been given in many arsenic-contaminated areas, he said. A survey, conducted in 2003, revealed that hundreds of tube-wells in rural areas have high arsenic concentration and many more are feared to have been contaminated with the same. So far, 50,000 tube-wells have been tested, and 63 per cent of them have been found to be contaminated by unacceptable concentrations of arsenic. Bangladesh has recognised the acceptable limit of arsenic concentration in water at 0.05 milligram/liter. Many people are suffering from arsenicosis and a large number are exposed to the risk, said AKM Ibrahim, project director of arsenic contamination mitigation projects. The government has not taken any programme to conduct a survey on arsenic-contaminated tube-wells and patients at this moment, he told The Independent. The government didnt approve the project to dig one pond in every village. Besides, it is tough to free the khash ponds from the lease-holders, he added. Experts noted that high population density is one of major factors for the extensive use of land, forest, and fisheries and the water resources, which is leading to severe environmental pressure, such as intense cultivation, that threatens soil fertility and swamps the country with agrochemicals and causes excessive extraction of water for irrigation by depressing the water table. Besides, flood control measures are blocking fish migration paths and commercial fish farming is flooding agricultural land with salt water, they observed. They said pollution of groundwater by arsenic has created an alarming situation for the countrys public health.