Lecture # 16: Arsenic contamination in BD
Objectives
1. To Define Arsenicosis
2. To Discuss the Areas of Arsenicosis in BD
3. To Detect the Causes of Arsenicosis in BD
4. To Discuss the Impacts of Arsenicosis in BD
5. To Discuss the Mitigation Process of Arsenicosis in BD
Presented by
Abul Kalam Azad
Senior Lecturer, GED
Northern University Bangladesh
E-mail: kalamadd@gmail.com

Introduction
Arsenic contamination of ground water has become a catastrophe in Bangladesh. It has caused enormous health hazards and social problems.
Tube well, which became unavoidable source of drinking water, is now a branded evil thing and brings the poison with ground water. Even, scholars have begun to say that water should be redefined as human threat rather than life giver. Let’s, first of all, define arsenic contamination and then discuss the causes and effects of arsenic contamination in ground water of Bangladesh.

Definition of Arsenic
Arsenic was first written about by Albertus Magnus
(Germany) in 1250.
Qumrul Islam Chowdhury defined arsenic as “a white semi-metalic powder found in nature.”
[Bangladesh State of Environment Report: Water and Environment, 1999: 26]
DFID defined arsenic as ~ “both toxic and carcinogenic” (a substance which causes cancer).
[Groundwater Studies for Arsenic Contamination in
Bangladesh, 1997:1]
Rashida & Mridha defined arsenic as~ “a naturally occurring poisonous chemical element and always present as compound.” [Ibid, p- 162]

Arsenic in Nature
1. Arsenic is present in air, soil and water
2. Industrial wastes may emit arsenic to the atmosphere.
3. Most fruits, vegetables, meats and fishes contain arsenic
4. Arsenic level in sea water and sea fishes is higher
5. Human beings take a little amount of arsenic every day through breaths, food or drinks.
6. An intake of 150 microgram of arsenic per day should not cause any harmful effect to human being
7. Very sensitive person becomes sick with as low as 20 microgram of arsenic a day.

Table: Amount of Arsenic in Different Things
Different Things
Rock Per KG
Soil Per KG natural water per L
Extent of Arsenic
1.5 - 2.0 mg up to 500 mg
1-2 microgram
Sea fish per kg weight 5 mg

Chemical Nature of Arsenic at a Glance
Formula
Atomic Number
Atomic weight
Density at 32 degree
Fahrenheit
Melting point
Boiling Point
As
33
74.9216
5.73
1139 degree
Fahrenheit
1497.2 degree
Fahrenheit

Confirmation of Diagnosis
 Detection of arsenic in urine, nail, hair, skin-scale and liver tissues confirms diagnosis.
 Normal values: Urine- 0.005-0.04 mg/L.
(level exceeding 1.0 mg/L confirms presence of excess arsenic); Hair- 0.08-0.25 mg/kg;
Nail- 0.43-1.08 mg/kg.
 Other investigations: Liver function tests, kidney function tests, endoscopy, routine examination of blood and urine.

First sample of arsenic in tube well water was detected in 1993 in some southern districts of BD.
Arsenic contamination has been found in 19.4% samples. Acceptable range of arsenic have been found in tube well water of 155 Thanas of 44 districts (See the table below).
Quest
Year
Where
Detector
% of Sample
Acceptable range of arsenic found in
Answer
1993
Southern districts of BD
Public Health Eng. Dept of
BD Govt.
19.4 %
155 Thanas of 44 districts

No. of
Affec.
Dist.
No. of
Affec.
Thana
Name of the District
33 137
Nawabganj, Bagerhat, Satkhira,
Meherpur, Kushtia, Chuadanga,
Zhinaidah, Magura, Norail,
Jessore, Faridpur, Rajbari,
Gopalganj, Madaripur, Shariatpur,
Laxmipur, Noakhali, Feni,
Chandpur, Comilla, Brahminbaria,
Narayanganj, Pabna, Rajshahi,
Khulna, Munshiganj, Manikganj,
Norshingdi, Sylhet, Sunamganj,
Moulavibazar, Barisal, Pirojpur

Less
Contam.
Dist.
No. of
Affec.
Dist.
No. of
Affec.
Thana
11 18
Contam.
Free
Districts
16
Name of the District
Gaibandha, Kurigram, Nilphamari,
Sirjaganj, Natore, Jamalpur,
Netrokona, Cox'sbazar,
Kishoreganj, Sherpur, Chittagong
Panchagar, Thakurgaon,
Lalmonirhat, Dinajpur, Rangpur,
Joypurhat, Bogra, Naogaon,
Dhaka, Tangail, Mymensingh,
Hobiganj, Bhola, Zhalokathi,
Patuakhali, Gazipur
Dist. not yet surveyed
4
Total 64

Rashida & Mridha state: “ . . There are several speculations about the source of arsenic contamination in Bangladesh such as~
1. Wooden electric poles of Rural
Electrification Board which are treated with chromate copper arsenate (CCA), ammoniacal copper arsenate (ACA), and ammoniacal copper zinc arsenic (ACZA);

2. High use of fertilizers and pesticides, particularly phosphate fertilizers;
3. Role of microbes in the aquifers;
4. Reduction of iron oxyhydroxides etc.
[Ibid, p- 163]
They further state that all these speculations were gradually rejected and ultimately a survey shows that only the shallow and tube-well water contained high concentration of arsenic which are usually restricted at
40- 150 feet depth.

Saumyen Guha says: “The source of arsenic in any aquifer may be either anthropogenic or natural. Anthropogenic emissions of arsenic arise from:
Mining ; Fuel consumption ; Smelting of ores (rock or soil from which metal can be obtained); and the use of arsenic in fertilizers and pesticides. [A Study of
Arsenic in Drinking Water, Vol # 4, 2001: 1]
According to Miller: Arsenic arises from:
Oxygen- demanding wastes; Disease-causing agents; Inorganic chemicals; Plant nutrients;
Sediments; Radioactive substances; and
Heat. [Living Environment, p- 357]

Any form of arsenic compound is toxic to human. Its toxicity is more than four times higher than that of the toxic trace element mercury. The toxic effect of arsenic species depend mainly on their chemical form, route of entry, age, sex, dozes and duration of exposure. Arsenic toxicity occurs through contaminated food and drinking water. Skin diseases are the common effects of arsenic poisoning.
Long term exposure to excessive arsenic causes changes in skin pigments and hyperkeratosis; promotes development of ulcerations of skin, bladder, kidney and skin.

Table: Arsenic Toxicity in different Organ Systems
Organ
System
Problems
Skin
Liver
Nervous
System
Respiratory
System
Endocrine
System
Symmetric hyperkeratosis
(Figure-1: See below) of palms melanosis (Figure-2: See below) or depigmentation, tumour
Enlargement, Jaundice, hearing loss
Lung Cancer
Diabetes

Figure-1: Hyperkeratosis on the palm of hand of a young adult

Figure-2: Melanosis on the neck and chest of a middle aged female

Table- Clinical Feature of Arsenicosis as observed in Bangladesh
Preclinical
Stage
Initial
Stage
Second Stage Last Stage
No preclinical manifestation
Melanosis, keratosis,
Depigmenconjunctivitis, bronchitis, gastroenter itis tation, hyperkeratosis
, peripheral nephropathy, hepatopathy
Nephropathy
, hepatopathy, gangrene, cancer of skin, bladder and lung
In Bangladesh, majority of patients are in initial and second stages

Mitigation of Arsenic Contamination
There is no single magic bullet solution of arsenic problems. However, many scholars have given some suggestions.
DFID –suggestions
1. Use of surface water with treatment by pond sand filter;
2. Sinking deep wells into the arsenic free aquifers;
3. Rain water harvesting;
4. Sterilization of existing ground water; and
5. Arsenic treatment at various scales.”

• Identify arsenicoses patients and at risk patients.
• Provide treatment and nutritious food to the patients.
• Provide equipment and medicines at health centers to ensure the treatment.
• Set up regional facilities for detection of arsenic in water and human body in collaboration of donor agencies.
• Create alternate source of safe drinking water.

• Provide training to health personnel and staff for improving knowledge and efficiency in the diagnosis and management of arsenicoses.
• Enhance awareness of people through massive health education campaigns.
• Conduct integrated and intensive surveys in Bangladesh and in West Bengal by the support of donor agencies.
• Establish national database on arsenic problem.
• Examine efficacies of different de-arsination methods.
• Design local projects suitable for specific problem prone areas.

• Assess types of training need.
• Build organizational structure to check drinking water quality.
• Build organizational structure to follow up arsenicoses patients on regular basis.
• Build National Reference Laboratory for the detection and evaluation of arsenic presence in drinking water and human body.
• Provide support to research program relating to arsenic contamination and reduction of risks.
• Assess need of fund.
• Establish bilateral collaboration with the
Government of India in exchanging experiences, travels and joint initiatives.
• Strengthen International collaboration for the solution of the problem.

Finally, it may be said that arsenic contamination in Bangladesh is a great health risk, no doubt. So, we should take proper steps to mitigate such dangerous poison as early as possible.