Ground Water Arsenic Contamination and Its Health Effects in Bangladesh

Arsenic contamination of ground water in Bangladesh is of geogenic origin. In 1993, a few tubewells in a northern district of Bangladesh were found to be arsenic contaminated. Tubewells are the main source of drinking water in rural areas and at least 50 million people in Bangladesh are exposed to arsenic through drinking water collected from such sources. Arsenic has found its way into soil, plants, and food items due to arsenic-tainted water, which is often used for irrigation. The population in Bangladesh is exposed to arsenic both through drinking water and food. Many health effects of chronic low dose arsenic exposure are already evident. Cancers are not uncommon. The situation is further complicated because of high prevalence of or malnutrition in the population. As exposure continues because of lack of sustainable safe water supply, the number of arsenicosis patients and its complicated forms can be expected to rise. It is essential to curtail exposure, introduce surveillance for complications of arsenicosis, and strengthen nutrition promotion programs.