Agricultural Research Management Information System

Home
Research Summary
Search
About Us
- ARMIS
- Brochure
Contact Us
Report
User Request
Data Input
Help
- Operation Manual
  - PDF
  - Video
- Program Area & Commodity
We have reached 37600 number of research entries at this moment.

- Logout

Research Detail

Home
Research
Detail

Arsenic Contamination in Surface and Groundwater in Major Parts of Manikganj District, Bangladesh

Atia Akter
Department of Environmental Science and Resource Management, Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University, Tangail-1902, Bangladesh

M. Y. Mia
Department of Environmental Science and Resource Management, Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University, Tangail-1902, Bangladesh

H. M. Zakir
Department of Agricultural Chemistry, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh,

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The contamination of groundwater by arsenic (As) in Bangladesh is the largest poisoning of population in history, with millions of people exposed. Thirty (30) water samples were collected from 5 different Upazilas of Manikganj district in Bangladesh to determine the concentration of As as well as to assess the level of contamination. Concentrations of As in waters were within the range of 0.27 to 1.96; 0.43 to 5.09; trace to 6.69 mg L^-1at Singair, Harirampur and Ghior Upazila, respectively. But the concentration of As in waters both of Manikganj sadar and Shivalaya Upazila were trace. All surface and groundwater samples of Singair and Harirampur, and 4 groundwater samples of Ghior Upazila’s exceeded Bangladesh standard value for As concentration (0.05 mgL^-1). The highest As concentration (6.69 mgL^-1) was found in groundwater of Baliakhora village of Ghior upazila in Manikganj district. The cation chemistry indicated that among 30 water samples, 15 showed dominance sequence as Mg²⁺ > Ca²⁺ > Na⁺ > K⁺ and 14 samples as Ca²⁺ > Mg²⁺ > Na⁺ > K⁺. On the other hand, the dominant anion in water samples was Cl^- followed by HCO₃^- and SO₄²^-. Highly significant positive correlations were found in between the concentrations of As and SO₄^2- (r=712**), and As and Ca²⁺ (r=581*), suggesting similar sources and/or similar geochemical processes controlling the occurrence of these ions in waters.

Keywords: Arsenic pollution, Water,

Location: Manikganj

Start Date: 00-02-2013

End Date: 00-00-0000

Program Area: Crop-Soil-Water Management

Commodity: Contamination

Objectives:

To determine the concentration of As and to assess the level of contamination in waters collected from five (5) different Upazilas of Manikganj district of Bangladesh.

Methodology:

A total of 30 water samples were collected from 30 locations of 5 different Upazila’s of Manikganj district during the month of February, 2013 following the sampling techniques as outline by APHA (1995) and Sincero and Sincero (2004). The water samples were taken in 500 mL plastic bottles, which were cleaned in the laboratory with dilute HCl (1:1) and then rinsed twice with distilled water. Before sampling, bottles were also rinsed with the sampled water. The bottles containing water samples were sealed immediately to avoid exposure to air and marked with necessary information. In the laboratory, the water samples were filtered through Whatman no. 42 filter paper to separate undesirable solid and suspended materials. Then the samples were analyzed for pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), dissolved oxygen (DO), major cations (Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Na⁺ and K⁺) and major anions (Cl^-, CO₃²^-, HCO₃^-, SO₄²^- and PO₄³^-) at the laboratories of the Department of Environmental Science and Resource Management, Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University, Tangail-1902 and the Department of Agricultural Chemistry, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202. Calcium and magnesium were determined titrimetrically using standard Na₂ EDTA (Ghosh et al., 1983; Page et al., 1989). Chloride was measured by titrimetrically using standard AgNO₃ solution. Carbonate and bicarbonate were also determined by titrimetrically using standard H₂SO₄ solution (Ghosh et al., 1983; Singh et al., 1999). Sodium and potassium were measured by flame photometrically whereas sulphate and phosphate were determined by spectrophotometrically (Ghosh et al., 1983; Tandon, 1995; Singh et al., 1999). The concentration of arsenic in water samples were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometer by using the single element hallow cathode lamp at the wavelength of 193 nm following the procedure as described by APHA (1995).

Source of Information: J. Bangladesh Agril. Univ. 13(1): 47–54, 2015 ISSN 1810-3030

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Concentrations of As in waters collected from Singair, Harirampur and Ghior Upazila of Manikganj district were within the range of 0.27 to 1.96; 0.43 to 5.09; trace to 6.69 mg L^-1, respectively. But the concentration of As in waters both of Manikganj sadar and Shivalaya Upazila were trace. The present study also revealed that among the 30 water samples studied, 18 samples collected from Singair, Harirampur and Ghior Upazilas of Manikganj district had arsenic, which exceeded Bangladesh standard limit for arsenic concentration (0.05 mgL^-1). The highest arsenic concentration (6.69 mgL^-1) in water was found in the Baliakhora village of Ghior upazila in Manikganj district. So, arsenic concentration in these waters are harmful for human health and livestock. On the other hand, the observed arsenic values of water of 3 villages of Ghior Upazila, 5 villages of Manikganj Sadar Upazila and 4 villages of Shivalaya Upazila in Manikganj district were negligible. However, the population exposed to the arsenic contamination should be advised about the arsenic in drinking water, the sources of arsenic-free water and the importance of compliance with treatment programs.

Knowledge Management: Journal