Questions and Answers:Arsenic Seminar-World's Largest Man-made Arsenic Disaster in
Bangladesh and West Bengal:An Urgent Call to Save a Nation, held in Wichita, Kansas, USA
We do not have any doubt that whoever (Bangladeshi and foreign scientists, Bangladesh Govt, NGOs) is working on the
arsenic problem of Bangladesh, are genuinely working to save the people of Bangladesh from the arsenic disaster. We
greatly admire and appreciate your efforts.
During the seminar held in Wichita, Kansas, (World's Largest Man-made Arsenic Disaster in Bangladesh & West Bengal: An
Urgent Call to Save a Nation, March 10, 2007), we received many critical questions which must be analyzed in order to
solve the arsenic problem in Bangladesh and West Bengal of India. Today we will bring to your attention the indiscriminate
disposal of arsenic sludge from the arsenic filters and municipal water treatment plants in Bangladesh.
Until recently, We really did not know that arsenic sludge from the water treatment plants and arsenic removal filters are
being improperly disposed off in Bangladesh and we don't place blame on any one for improper disposal of arsenic sludge in
the past, but we do want to share the impact of arsenic sludge disposal on the ground, rivers, ponds etc., so that the govt.of
Bangladesh,NGOs,scientists, politicians, journalists and others can take immediate initiative to protect the public health,
water resources and environment from the indiscriminate disposal of arsenic sludge in Bangladesh.
Like us, many Bangladesh govt. officials, NGOs and scientists were concerned about this issue, but no initiative has been
taken by the govt. to address this issue. Arsenic sludge is toxic waste. Improper disposal of this sludge will contaminate air,
soil, water and thus will eventually contaminate the entire ecosystem and environment of Bangladesh. In USA, improper
disposal of toxic wastes such as arsenic sludge is illegal and unlawful and severe penalties are in place for illegal dumping
of toxic wastes.
In 2004? Md. Abdur Rauf and Md. Delwar Hossain in their article “Effects of Using Arsenic-Iron Sludge in Brick Making”
reported that “At present 18 number of large scale Arsenic and Iron treatment plant generates about 60000-cft arsenic rich
sludge in a year (DPHE, 2002). While landfills are commonly used for disposal of sludge in Bangladesh, rapid urbanization
has made it increasingly difficult to find suitable landfill sites(Lin et.al., 2001). At places, it is disposed off to nearby rivers or
low laying areas, which is likely to pollute surface and groundwater”.
Dr. Jamal Anwar in “SOS-arsenic.net” reported that “Dutch Aid - New Water Supply with Arsenic at Faridpur: Very recently
tap water supplied from Faridpur Pouroshava designed and approved by the consultants of Dutch Aid. It was very well
known that deep wells at Faridpur are highly arsenic contaminated, but no design or effort was made to remove completely
arsenic and disposal of arsenic sludge. But this water also contains arsenic higher than Bangladesh standard (0.05 mg/l).
This water is also bad for Narayan Shiel. According to Bangladesh water standard this water should be in red (banned - not
for use). Faridpur Water Supply can easily improve this water by adding Ferrous Sulphate. Paradoxically every morning the
sand filters are back washed and arsenic sludge is disposed of in the nearby Kumar River without any treatment (Photo).
The slums that live close to it have no access to tap water but the highly contaminated tube well water that contains 0.40mg/l arsenic. The close Kumar River and surrounding surface aquifer are turning to be poisonous with the knowledge of the
engineers and scientists of Dutch Aid. Is it possible to do the same in their own country?”
He further reported that “Water supplies of all contaminated areas of Bangladesh dispose off highly toxic arsenic sludge to
rivers or nearby ponds. The old units also dispose off arsenic sludge to nearby waterways contaminating surrounding areas.
This possibly made Faridpur Sadar as one of the worst affected areas of Bangladesh. Average arsenic concentration in
Faridpur is about 0.300 mg/l (300 times higher than WHO standard). Also highly educated laboratories of Bangladesh
dispose of toxic chemicals, biological contaminated wastes, and arsenic water disposes into cities sewage system. How can
you expect a disposal programme in rural areas? “
Dutch aided water supply backwashing arsenic sludge
Arsenic Sludge Disposal(Source:J.Anwar)
Arsenic Sludge Disposal to River(Source:J.Anwar)
The information presented by Dr. Jamal Anwar and Rauf et.al., suggest that the govt. of Bangladesh and NGOs are not
aware of the impacts of improper disposal of arsenic sludges in Bangladesh. Bangladesh never faces such an
environmental disaster in the past and these organizations probably do not have experienced experts and resources for
managing arsenic toxic sludge. Furthermore, they have been misguided by scientists regarding the source and cause of the
problem. If they had known the real source and cause and solution to the problem, they would have never improperly
disposed off arsenic sludge on the ground, river and ponds etc.
In 2005, Hamel & Nahar carried out an investigation on 15 NGO led arsenic mitigation projects in 11 districts in Bangladesh.
They collected soil and sludge samples from 20 disposal sites and conducted TCLP tests on theses samples. The
analytical data indicated that the leachate concentrations are below the USEPA hazardous criteria (below 5mg/L). Based on
their study they concluded that “the arsenic treatment units rendered the majority of the arsenic into a stable and non-mobile
phase. No hazardous leachate was identified from the sludge produced from these units. Therefore, present arsenicsludge disposal methods appear to be safe and not to contribute to recontamination of the environment. It is hoped that
this study will lay the groundwork for informed public debate on arsenic treatment technologies and more particularly on
longterm consequences of sludge disposal methods.”
Hamel and Nahar's conclusion is based on TCLP test on the sludge and soil samples only. They did not collect and analyze
any geological, hydrological and hydrogeological data of the disposal sites that are essential to determine whether the
current disposal method on the ground is safe or whether the current disposal method would eventually recontaminate air,
soil/sediments, water and the environment. Hamel and Nahar's conclusion is not based on adequate geological,
hydrological, hydrogeological and geochemical data, therefore, their recommendation regarding the present arsenic sludge
disposal method is not acceptable. Even if, we accept only the USEPA-TCLP criteria for arsenic (below 5.0 mg/L), we can
not dispose off arsenic sludge on the ground, river, pond etc. We have to dispose off arsenic sludge in an engineered
sanitary landfill. If the TCLP tests of the sludge samples are higher than 5.0 mg/L, then the sludge must be treated in a
hazardous waste landfill before disposing off in a sanitary landfill. The current disposal method of arsenic sludge in
Bangladesh would be considered illegal dumping of toxic arsenic waste in the United States.
In rural areas thousands of tube wells are probably using filters for removing arsenic. How are they disposing of arsenic
sludges? Can any one imagine the impact of arsenic sludge of millions of wells using arsenic filters? Is it really a wise
option using arsenic filters for removing arsenic from arsenic contaminated water in Bangladesh and West Bengal? Should
not we make and maintain a healthy living conditions and environment for all of us and for our future generations?
Dr. Abul Hussam is a nice person and we are proud of his good work, but we can not accept his wrong and misleading
advise regarding the arsenic sludge disposal method in Bangladesh. Recently in “Washington Post” he stated that “Each
filter contains 20 pounds of porous iron, which forms a strong chemical bond with arsenic and is key to the system's
success. Even if the resulting, coffee-ground-like substance is eventually dumped on the ground, he said, the arsenic will
not be released as long as there is oxygen around.”
The dumping of arsenic sludge on the ground is harmful for the public health, water resources, agricultural resources,
ecosystem and the environment. Therefore, this method is not acceptable and should be stopped immediately. This issue
may be new to Dr. Hussam , but this is not new to many experts around the world who are involved in managing hazardous
wastes generated from industrial and mining operations and protecting the public health, water resources and environment
from contaminated soil, sediments and water.
Dr. Hussam also stated that "I myself and all my brothers were drinking this water," whose family had two of the now
infamous shallow "tube wells" in the agricultural district of Kushtia, where he grew up -- one in the kitchen and the other in
the yard, both operated by hand pumps. His family members remained healthy, Hussam said, perhaps because they had a
nutritious diet, which can help stem the ill effects that typically accumulate over a decade or more of arsenic ingestion.”
Dr. Hussam does not have any sound scientific data and evidences that support his statement. When an educated person
like Dr. Hussam provide incorrect information to the international news media about a life and death problem of a nation,
how can the international community help the people of Bangladesh based on incorrect information? Bangladesh can not
solve this problem without the help of international community and without engaging right professionals. If Dr. Hussam's
statement were true and based on sound scientific data and evidences, we would request him to present his geological,
hydrological, hydrogeological and geochemical data and evidences that support his statement. The historical medical data,
arsenic toxicity data, groundwater used data from dug wells and tube wells, geological, hydrological, hydrogeological and
geochemical data clearly revealed that before 1975 in Bangladesh and before 1960 in West Bengal no body drank arsenic
poisoned water. The groundwater was poisoned with arsenic in Bangladesh after 1975 and in West Bengal after 1960 due
to over pumping of groundwater and diversion of river water by building dams/barrages in the Ganges, Tista and other
common rivers of Bangladesh and India.
The landfills in Bangladesh are not sanitary landfills or hazardous waste landfills. Therefore, arsenic contaminants from
these landfills will eventually contaminate soil, sediments and groundwater. The geological, hydrological and
hydrogeological conditions in Bangladesh are not environmentally friendly enough to protect the environment from the
indiscriminate disposal of arsenic sludge from the arsenic removal filters and water treatment plants. Some investigators
suggested making brick out of arsenic and iron sludges, but the question is who would use these bricks and where?
Eventually these bricks will be weathered and contaminate the environment.
The govt. of Bangladesh, Grameen Bank, BRAC, DCH,other NGOs and other responsible parties should immediately collect
arsenic sludge from each disposal sites and dispose them off properly. The arsenic sludge wastes management in
Bangladesh is a difficult task. We do not see any known method that is suitable for the remediation of arsenic sludge in the
context of Bangladesh's geology, hydrology, hydrogeology and socio-economic conditions. Therefore, arsenic filtration
system is not a sustainable solution rather it will create more pollution and other severe problems in Bangladesh.
Now the critical question is, how can we supply arsenic free water without using arsenic filters in the arsenic prone areas,
where in dry season the surface water is not available? We will answer this question after answering the question related to
the source and cause of the arsenic disaster in Bangladesh and West Bengal.
Another important issue we would like to bring to your attention that needs to be addressed on an emergency basis is the
following: some studies in Bangladesh already reported the presence of high level of arsenic in food grains. The study of
Huq& Naidu et.al., Williams et.al., Hossain, et.al., Duxbury et.al. and others confirmed that agricultural crops, vegetables are
being contaminated with arsenic from irrigation water. Dr. Jamal Anwar reported that “Irrigation with arsenic contaminated
deep well water in Comilla contaminates food chain.”
Source:Jamal
Anwar
This information further suggests that the govt. of Bangladesh must take immediate necessary action to protect the
groundwater and agricultural resources in Bangladesh from the arsenic disaster.
In order to mitigate the arsenic problem in Bangladesh and West Bengal of India, we must know the source and cause of
the problem based on sound scientific data and evidences. The proponents of “Natural Disaster Theory” were misled by
incorrect, inadequate and false data and thus have developed a wrong and misleading theory that “the groundwater arsenic
poisoning in Bangladesh & West Bengal is a natural disaster, that the poisoning has been present into groundwater for
thousands of years and that the Oxyhydroxide reduction is the principal cause for the mobilization of arsenic into
groundwater.
We will answer the next question related to the source and cause of arsenic poisoning. We will analyze both Natural
disaster theory and Man made disaster theory.
Respectfully,
Meer Husain, P.G.
Professional Geologist
Kansas Dept. of Health & Environment
And Adjunct Faculty
Cowley County Community College
Kansas, USA.