Arsenic Poisoning in Bangladesh, Impact on Health and Ecology and Mitigation Strategies

Abstract

- This paper delineates the impacts of arsenic on human and ecological health and subsequent treatments of arsenic related diseases in Bangladesh. Arsenic is a metalloid that is known for its toxicity and carcinogenicity. Arsenic causes arsenicosis and several carcinogenic diseases and other diseases. The high arsenic concentration in groundwater in the country is believed to be due to the over-exploitation of groundwater for irrigation purpose and domestic water supply, inadequate recharge of the aquifer and lack of water management in Bangladesh. Several tube-wells in Bangladesh have been found to contain arsenic in concentration that is beyond the permissible limit which is 0.05 mg/l (50 µg/L). Up to 75 million people in Bangladesh are at risk of arsenic exposure. Arsenic affects crops and the food chain and can result to poor yield of crops. Some advanced technologies can also be leveraged to mitigate arsenic contamination. The government of Bangladesh has played a significant role in minimizing or eliminating arsenic contamination but it is not capable enough to deal with the problem. Remediation methods can be resorted to but most important would be to close down wells that have a concentration of arsenic beyond the permissible limit.