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Arsenic Contamination and Human Health:a Socioeconomic Study in Some Selected Areas of Bangladesh

W. M. H. Jaim
Professor
Professor, Department of Agricultural Economics, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh.

Mahabub Hossain
Executive Director
Executive Director, BRAC, BRAC Centre, 75 Mohakhali,Dhaka-1212, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Arsenic contamination of groundwater is a case of mass poisoning in Bangladesh. In order to examine the nature and extent of the problem, household survey was conducted in both arsenic contaminated and non-contaminated areas. The selected arsenic `hot spots' were Faridpur and Lakshimpur while the arsenic free area was Gazipur. One village from each of the three locations was purposively selected and the number of households considered as samples was 250. The analysis showed that severity of arsenic related diseases was more acute in the poor village of Lakshimpur area (where about 50% of the household members were suffering from arsenic related skin diseases) compared to Faridpur while in Gazipur there was no case of any patient suffering from arsenic related diseases. Further, the impact of arsenic problem was found to be extended from immediate health effect to extensive social and economic hardship especially for the poor. On the other hand, access to health care facilities as well as access to save drinking water and even access to information about arsenic mitigation programs were seriously lacking particularly in Lakshimpur. Special attention from the Government, private and NGOs is needed to meet the urgent need of supplying arsenic free water to save lives of the millions of people living in the arsenic contaminated areas of Bangladesh.

Keywords: Arsenic,Human health,Socio- economic study

Location: Faridpur, Lakshmipur and Gazipur

Start Date: 05-08-2005

End Date: 06-03-2006

Program Area: Socio-economic and Policy

Non-commodity: Adoption of technology

Objectives:

To see the impact of arsenic in drinking water on human health in the arsenic contaminated areas compared to arsenic free area

Methodology:

In selecting the study areas, areas with arsenic contamination and without arsenic contamination of drinking water have been considered. Accordingly, three sites, namely Faridpur, Lakshmipur and Gazipur were selected. Both Faridpur and Lakshimpur areas are characterized by high level of arsenic contamination in drinking water lifted by Hand Tubewells (HTW) or by Shallow Tubewells (STW) while in Gazipur there is no report of arsenic contamination in water. Consulting local officials as well as local people, one village was selected to represent each of the three sites. The selected village in Faridpur was Bilvora under Manikdoho Union of Bhanga Upazila while the selected village in Lakshipur was Chandipur under Chandipur Union of Ramgonj Upazila. In the case of Gazipur, the selected village was Sripur which was located in Sripur Union under Sripur Upazila. For field survey, Cluster Sampling Method (CSM) was adopted in selecting households from each of the villages. It may be mentioned that in the case of CSM all households located in a cluster are considered as samples. In this study, the sample consisted of 100 households for each Faridpur and Gazipur and 50 households for Laksmipur. Total number of households in the selected villages of Faridpur, Gazipur and Lakshimpur were 250, 500 and 2000 respectively. The smaller sample size in Laksmipur was due to non-cooperation of the household heads in sharing information on the impact of arsenic poisoning as they felt shy of disclosing the information to the outsiders that someone in their families are affected by arsenic. The field survey was conducted during October, 2005 to March, 2006.

Source of Information: Bangladesh J. Agric. Econs. XXX, 2(2007) 81-91

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The analysis showed that severity of arsenic related diseases was more acute in the poor village of Lakshimpur area (where about 50% of the household members were suffering from arsenic related skin diseases) compared to Faridpur while in Gazipur there was no case of any patient suffering from arsenic related diseases. Further, the impact of arsenic problem was found to be extended from immediate health effect to extensive social and economic hardship especially for the poor. On the other hand, access to health care facilities as well as access to save drinking water and even access to information about arsenic mitigation programs were seriously lacking particularly in Lakshimpur. Special attention from the Government, private and NGOs is needed to meet the urgent need of supplying arsenic free water to save lives of the millions of people living in the arsenic contaminated areas of Bangladesh.

Knowledge Management: Journal