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Arsenic Contamination in Groundwater in Bangladesh: Implications and Challenges for Healthcare Policy

Sk Akhtar Ahmad
Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Bangladesh University of Health Sciences, Mirpur, Dhaka 1216, Bangladesh

Manzurul Haque Khan
Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, National Institute of Preventive Medicine, Mohakhali, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh

Mushfiqul Haque
Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, National Institute of Preventive Medicine, Mohakhali, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Arsenic contamination of groundwater in Bangladesh has been recognized as a major public problem. The arsenic contamination was first identified in the tubewell water in 1993 in a northern district of Bangladesh. Tubewells are the main source of drinking water in rural areas, and except hilly and terrace upland throughout the Bangladesh, the arsenic-contaminated tubewells are distributed. Fifty million people of Bangladesh were estimated to be at risk of exposure to arsenic through consumption of water from contaminated tubewells. Chronic exposure to arsenic causes arsenicosis and may include multi-organ pathologies. Many of the health effects of chronic toxicity are evident in Bangladesh. Besides dermatological manifestations, noncommunicable diseases including cancer, adverse pregnancy outcomes, and decreased intelligence quotient among the children are reported to be increasing. Cancer due to long-term low-dose arsenic exposure through consumption of contaminated water is now an important concern of Bangladesh as it is being increasingly reported from arsenic-exposed individuals. Stoppage of consumption of the arsenic-contaminated water is the mainstay of arsenicosis prevention and case management. At present, a higher proportion of the people are still consuming arseniccontaminated water because of the lack of sustainable arsenic-safe water supply. In providing sustainable arsenic-safe water options, any option advocated should be cheap, easy to use, locally maintainable, and owned by the community. In addressing arsenic-related health issues, arsenic-exposed population needs to be brought under the coverage of the regular surveillance program for detection and subsequent management of noncommunicable diseases and cancers.

Keywords: Arsenic, Arsenic contamination, Ground water, Tubewell, Arsenicosis, Bangladesh

Location: In Bangladesh

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Crop-Soil-Water Management

Commodity: Groundwater, Health hazard, Water Arsenic

Objectives:

The main objective of the initiative was to ensure the availability of regular technical support for the safe water options.

Methodology:

Bangladesh is largely located on the Bengal Basin formed by the Ganga–Brahmaputra–Meghna (GBM) river system. This sedimentary basin has been formed by deposition of large volumes of arsenic-containing sediments that originated mainly from the Himalayas and was carried down by the mighty GBM rivers during the Pleistocene and Holocene periods. From these sediments, arsenic is leaching into the groundwater aquifers located in the fan deposit areas and Holocene alluvium. Though the exact mechanism of the arsenic leaching into groundwater is not clear, three mechanisms have been suggested in explaining the process of leaching of arsenic in the groundwater in GBM basin: 1) Arsenical pyrites in the alluvial sediments is oxidized and as a result arsenic is released into the groundwater. The oxidation might have occurred due to the entry of atmospheric oxygen into the aquifers subsequent to heavy withdrawal of ground water through shallow and deep tubewells. 2) Microbial metabolism of organic matter in the underground leading to anoxic conditions, thus leading to reduction of iron oxyhydroxides (FeOOH), and subsequently resulting in the release of sorbed arsenic into the groundwater. 3) Arsenic anions sorbed to aquifer minerals are being displaced into solution by competitive exchange of phosphate anions resulting arsenic contamination in groundwater. The sources of phosphate are said to be the excessive use of phosphate fertilizer for agriculture, from fermentation or decay of buried peat deposits and other natural organic materials, etc. However, these suggested mechanisms yet remain to be substantiated. In the year 1993, the water samples of some tubewells located in the northern bordering area of Bangladesh were examined for arsenic contamination and found to contain arsenic in the range of 0.059–0.388 mg/L, which was higher than the Bangladesh standard level of arsenic in drinking water (0.05 mg/L). Within 12 years of the first detection of arsenic contamination, it was evident that arsenic contamination of groundwater was present in 62 out of 64 districts of Bangladesh. The arsenic concentration in the water of the majority of the arsenic-contaminated tubewells was found to be in the range of 0.10–0.30 mg/L. The highest concentration of arsenic detected in the tubewell water was 4.7 mg/L. Another survey (2009) that sampled water from tubewells of 13,423 households throughout the country revealed that arsenic level in 12.6% of tested samples exceeded the Bangladesh arsenic standard for drinking water. Arsenic is ubiquitous in nature, present in all environmental media and also in human bodies. Humans are routinely exposed to very small amounts of arsenic through food, water, and air. The illness that develops from chronic arsenic exposure is known as “Arsenicosis.” Skin lesions such as melanosis, keratosis, and leucomelanosis are the characteristic manifestations of arsenicosis. In Bangladesh, these dermatological features are considered as the prime manifestations of arsenicosis. WHO defines arsenicosis as a “chronic condition arising from a prolonged ingestion of arsenic above safe dose for at least 6 months, usually manifested by characteristic skin lesions of melanosis and/or keratosis with or without involvement of internal organs. There is no specific medicine available for the treatment of arsenicosis. Cessation of further exposure to arsenic by stopping consumption of arsenic-contaminated water both for drinking and cooking purpose and to use arsenic-safe water for both the drinking and cooking purpose are the main management strategies for arsenicosis patients in Bangladesh.

Source of Information: Risk Management and Healthcare Policy 2018:11 251–261

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Arsenicosis due to arsenic contamination in drinking water is a major public health crisis in Bangladesh. Since the identification of arsenic-contaminated tubewells and arsenicosis patients, government and non-government organizations undertook several activities to stop the arsenic exposure through drinking water by providing alternate sources of arsenic-safe water, identification of arsenicosis patients and their management, and mass awareness programs. These activities could only bring about a little sustainable significant positive impact. The lagging of sustainable arsenic-safe water supply and effective arsenicosis management program is apparent, and surveillance for complications particularly cancers among arsenicosis patients and arsenic-exposed populations is lacking.

Knowledge Management: Journal