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Study on Arsenic Contamination in Soil and Water in Five-selected Agro Ecolocical Zone (aez) on Bangladesh

Md. Nurul Huda Al Mamun
Soil Resource Development Institute, Regional Laboratory, Mymensingh.

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

A research was carried out at the five different Agro-Ecological Zones (AEZ) of Bangladesh, viz. Tista Meander Floodplain (FP), High Ganges FP, Low Ganges FP, Active Ganges FP and Gopalganj-Khulna Bills during January 2001 to January 2002. The objectives were to assess the arsenic (As) concentration in the soil and water as well as to test tube well water samples and examines whether these exceed the acceptable limit of As. Water of shallow tube wells (STW) and soil samples were collected from ten sites under five AEZs of Bangladesh. Considerable number of water samples showed high contents of arsenic, which ranged from 0.032 to 203.9 µg/l. Out of 428 water samples, 155 were found unsafe (> 10-<50 µg/l) and 78 were toxic (>50 µg/l) for drinking purpose. However, out of 2648 soil samples collected from different Upazilas, only 4 samples collected from Chargat showed toxic level (>20 µg/kg),

Keywords: Arsenic contamination, Toxic, Food chain

Location: Rangpur, Kurigram, Chapai Nawabgonj, Jessore, Rajshai and Gopalgonj

Start Date: 00-01-2001

End Date: 00-01-2002

Program Area: Risk Management in Agriculture

Commodity: Arsenic, Contamination of soil

Objectives:

To determine the magnitude of arsenic contamination in the drinking water and its distribution to soils.

Methodology:

An investigation was carried out at five different Agro Ecological Zones (AEZ) of Bangladesh, VIZ. Tista Meander Floodplain (FP), High Ganges FP, Low Ganges FP, Active Ganges FP and Gopalganj-Khulna Bills, during January 2001 to January 2002. Ten sites of six districts namely Rangpur, Kurigram, Chapai Nawabgonj, Jessore, Rajshai and Gopalgonj under five different Agro Ecological Zones (AEZ) were selected for present study. Ten of each of the above mentioned samples were collected randomly from each zone. Composite soil samples from 0-30 and 30-60 cm below ground surface were collected using a 6 cm diameter hand auger and immediately stored in a sealed zip lock bag. Tube-well water was sampled in a pre-sterilized 250 ml polythene bottle after these being rinsed thrice with distilled water and tube wells were pumped at least for 5 minuets (for 50 ft depth )and only than those water were preserved. All samples were sealed immediately after collection and an identification number was written on to a log of samples collected for that date. Water and soil samples were tagged accordingly and sent to the Soil Resource Development Institute (SRDI) laboratory, Dhaka. Ground water was collected from As affected areas of greater district of Faridpur, Jessore and Rajshahi districts. Water samples were acidified with 1: 1 HNO₃ and transported to the Laboratory. Before acidified pH for all the water samples was determined by using pH meter. Soil samples were collected from these selected sites irrigated by contaminated ground water. All samples were dried, ground and sieved through 2 mm sieve. Soil samples (1g) were digested with 5 ml HNO₃ in a closed system. The digested samples were filtered and arsenic were determined by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) using hydride generator. Arsenic in the ground water was measured directly after filtration. Thus, the generated database were analyzed using a statistical software package "SPSS/PC+". A frequency distribution table was generated at first to see whether the data are normally distributed or skewed.

Source of Information: The Agriculturists 7(1&2): 137-142 (2009), ISSN-1729-5211

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Arsenic content in soil samples of the study areas were found acceptable for agricultural production, which ranged from 0.98-40.08 µg/g. Out of 462 soil samples, only 4 were found unsafe (>20 ug/g) for agricultural production. The distribution of arsenic in the water and soil sample indicated that there is a chance of arsenic contamination in food crops.

Knowledge Management: Journal