[Risk assessment of arsenic for people who live in the area of arsenic-contaminated undergroundwater in Bangladesh].

Abstract

Arsenic is a very harmful environmental pollutant and arsenic contamination of groundwater has been reported in Bangladesh, West Bengal, India and Nepal. In order to examine the risk assessment of arsenic, we made the plan to deliver the safe water for purpose of drinking and cooking for one year to 16 arsenic-affected families in Chunakali village, Chapai Nawabganj district, Bangladesh. We supplied the safe water after treatment of Gravel Sand Filter facility. The arsenic in drinking water didn't exceed almost 50 ppb for one year. Before delivering the safe water both on June 2005 and on February 2006, we visited Chunakali village with Professor Rahman, Associated Professor Belgum and Zaman and diagnosed the arsenic symptom of the arsenic-affected families and collected their urines and hairs. Also we visited that village on August 2006 of a half year after delivering the safe water and on March 2008 of one year after delivering the safe water. Due to the supply of safe water for one year for purpose of drinking and cooking, the arsenic symptoms were recovering and the amounts of arsenic in hairs were decreasing. If Bangladesh government has the good water management in rural areas of arsenic-polluted underground and adopted the appropriate water supply system, the arsenic symptom caused by arsenic should be recovered.