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Arsenic in drinking water: an emerging environmental health challenge
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Published
1998
Author(s)
Hoque, Bilqis A.
Ahmed, Shafiul A.
Chowdhury, Uttam K.
Chowdhury, J.T.A.
Morshed, G.
Maynard, Donald M.
Frisbie, Seth
Metadata
Objective: Determine the nature of arsenic contamination in drinking water in Bangladesh.
Methodology- Fhis ptchtmnury study w*» condut^J (luring July August 1997, A cco^acctioi^l survey wsf c^r
ried out to collect information at the household level (observational study design). The performance of field kits used by other agencies available to us was compared with a selected laboratory technique. Five hundred and seventy tubewells and their users were studied. Tubewell water samples collected from almost the whole country, except some areas in Chittagong and Sylhet, were analyzed for arsenic and ferrous iron contents. Users of these tubewells were interviewed and their statements reviewed, and the methods commonly used by other agencies to measure arsenic contamination were compared.
Results: About 61% of the tubewells were found to contain arsenic in excess of the WHO-recommended value of 0.01 mg/L. The arsenic concentration varied from 0 mg/L to approximately 1.0 mg/L, and the ferrous iron content varied from 0 mg/L to 41 mg/L. The association between arsenic and iron and the depth of handpumps was found to vary with the hydrogeological conditions. The study revealed that only 4% of the respondents were aware of the arsenic contamination in the used tubewells. Unclear messages related to water treatment were as well found to be disseminated at the field level.
Conclusion: The environmental health challenge relating to arsenic contamination is massive and complex, and needs to be addressed appropriately. Findings of the research and development activities should be coordinated appropriately
Citation
J Diarrhoeal Dis Res 8 Jun;16(2):108