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Arsenic: Its Presence in Groundwater, Uptake in Food Chain and Mitigation Measures

Sarkar, A. A.
CSO
BINA

A.A. Hassan
Member-Director (NRM) Deputation
BARC

Dr. M. H. Ali
SSO
BINA

N.N. Karim
SSO
BINA

M.A. Rahman
SO
BINA

M.A. Rahman

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Research works carried out at the Agricultural Engineering Division of ‘Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture’ (BINA) were: i) to survey the arsenic status on irrigation water at different hydrological zones, ii) to monitor long-term arsenic level in groundwater at BINA Head-quarters and its substation areas, iii) to conduct pot experiment with rice as test crop to assess the effect of arsenic contaminated water on growth, yield, and arsenic uptake pattern in the rice grain, and iv) to take mitigation strategies at field level through installing tube-wells at arsenic free aquifer for. The presence and amount of arsenic content varied from location to location, and with depth of geologic formation at a particular location. Pot experiment was conducted with two rice varieties and arsenic contaminated irrigation water (0.0, 2.5, 5, 10, 15 and 20 mg.l^-1) was applied at pre-scheduled growth stages of the rice crop during its growth cycle. Arsenic uptake varied with cultivars and was higher in Iratom-24 than BRRI dhan28. The mitigation measures suggested that tubewell for drinking water may be installed successfully at arsenic free layer in deeper aquifer in arsenic affected areas through escaping arsenic containing zone.

Keywords: Arsenic, Groundwater, Rice, Bangladesh

Location: Agricultural Engineering Division of ‘Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture’ (BINA)

Start Date: 00-02-2002

End Date: 00-06-2002

Program Area: Risk Management in Agriculture

Commodity: Arsenic

Objectives:

To monitor the seasonal, yearly as well as long-term arsenic status at BINA Head-quarters and its sub-station areas
To survey several arsenic affected hydrological zones/districts of Bangladesh and its level on different sources of groundwater (hand tubewell, shallow tubewell, deep tubewell, etc.)
To study the effect of different levels of arsenic on the growth, yield and its uptake pattern in rice
To evaluate the arsenic mitigation strategy at field level through installing tube-well (hand tube-well, shallow tube-well) at arsenic free layer/aquifer

Methodology:

Monitoring arsenic status in groundwater at BINA Head-quarters and its sub-stations and survey of groundwater for arsenic. Tests for the presence and amount (range) of arsenic were performed using the arsenic testing kits (MERCH, Germany; HACH, Germany) immediately after collecting the samples. Pot experiment with rice for arsenic uptake study: A pot culture experiment was conducted at BINA office compound, Mymensingh during February-June 2002, to evaluate the effect of arsenic on the growth, yield and its uptake of two rice varieties (BRRI dhan28 and Iratom-24). The arsenic doses were 0, 2.5, 5.0, 10.0, 15.0 and 20.0 mg.kg-1 which were applied by irrigation water having four replications. Three arsenic treatments were imposed by calculated amount of As₂O₃ dissolved in distilled water on March 17, March 30 and April 4, 2002, respectively for both the varieties. BRRI dhan28 and Iratom-24. Laboratory analysis of soil and plant samples: Test for arsenic was done by the X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. DBD (dibenzyldithiocarbamate) method (precipitation of heavy metal with DBDTC) was applied for analyzing the samples. In this method one mg. of soil/plant sample was taken in a 200 ml beaker and digested with 10 ml of concentrated nitric acid, 20ml of hydrochloric acid and evaporated to 15 ml. Installation of hand tubewell at arsenic free layer (of aquifer) as a mitigation strategy. Hand-tubewells were installed at arsenic free layer at two locations of Mymensingh District.

Source of Information: A Research Report, BINA/Ag.Engg.Division-10, Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture, p.30, (2010)

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

1. Government

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Arsenic content was found nil at all BINA sub-stations – Ishurdi, Rangpur, Magura, Satkhira, Comilla, and its Headquarters, Mymensingh (since 1999) throughout the year. The level of arsenic in soils at different growth stages of rice are shown in. The highest level of arsenic (0.95 mg.kg^-1) in soil was found in heading stage were BRRIdhan-28 was grown under at the As rate of 15 mg.kg^-1. The accumulation of As at the tillering stage of both varieties was more or less similar irrespective of applied doses. The results showed that arsenic had a pronounced effect on growth, yield and yield components of both rice varieties. With little consistency, all the parameters gradually decreased with the higher doses of arsenic, except 1000-grain weight. total number of tillers per pot, total number effective tillers per pot, grains per pot, grain yield per pot and straw yield per pot reduced markedly (about 50%) at the highest dose (20 mg. l^-1) of arsenic applied in soil as compared to control irrespective of variety. The grain yield remarkably decreased as a result of high arsenic doses.

Knowledge Management: Report/Proceedings