ARSENIC POISONING IN BANGLADESH: A GEOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS¹

Abstract

Drinking of arsenic‐contaminated tubewell water has become a serious health threat in Bangladesh. Arsenic contaminated tubewells are believed to be responsible for poisoning nearly two‐thirds of this country's population. If proper actions are not taken immediately, many people in Bangladesh will die from arsenic poisoning in just a few years. Causes and consequences of arsenic poisoning, the extent of area affected by it, and local knowledge and beliefs about the arsenic problem — including solutions and international responses to the problem — are analyzed. Although no one knows precisely how the arsenic is released into the ground water, several contradictory theories exist to account for its release. Initial symptoms of the poisoning consist of a dryness and throat constriction, difficulty in swallowing, and acute epigastric pain. Long‐term exposure leads to skin, lung, or bladder cancer. Both government and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in Bangladesh, foreign governments, and international agencies are now involved in mitigating the effects of the arsenic poisoning, as well as developing cost‐effective remedial measures that are affordable by the rural people.

Arsenic mitigation measures in Bangladesh

“…The inflow of oxygen and pressure from tubewell water help in breaking down sulphide in the arsenic-laden pyrite rock into fine particles which are further dissolved in groundwater (PAUL, 2004). Moreover, seasonal fluctuation of the water table also results in the rapid and regular intake of oxygen (PAUL and DE, 2000). In accordance with this assumption, the origin of As-rich groundwater can be considered manmade and would be a recent phenomenon (HOssAIn, 2006).…”

“…Due to overexploitation of groundwater, the underground water drops, creating a gap which is consequently filled by atmospheric oxygen (PAUL and DE, 2000). The inflow of oxygen and pressure from tubewell water help in breaking down sulphide in the arsenic-laden pyrite rock into fine particles which are further dissolved in groundwater (PAUL, 2004).…”

“…There are four recognized stages of chronic arsenic poisoning (table 1). In the first or pre-clinical stage, patients show no symptoms but arsenic can be detected in urine or body tissue samples (PAUL and DE, 2000). In the clinical stage, effects are visible on the skin (Figure 2).…”

“…In the clinical stage, effects are visible on the skin (Figure 2). A more serious symptom is keratosis (Figure 3), a hardening of the skin into nodules, often palms and soles, which may gradually lead to a gangrenous ulcers and has the potential of turning into skin cancer (PAUL and DE, 2000). In the third stage, manifestations become more pronounced and the internal organs are affected (PAUL, 2004).…”

“…In the final stage, arsenic poisoning may result in gangrene of the distal organs, skin cancer and kidney and liver failure (HADI and PARVEEn, 2004). However, the major portion of absorbed arsenic in the human body is excreted through urine (about 50 percent) and a small portion is absorbed through the face, skin and nails and firmly bound to keratin (PAUL and DE, 2000). A study was conducted in the affected villages of Jalangi block, West Bengal by analyzing a total of 1,600 biological samples including hair, nail and urine (RAHMAn et al, 2005).…”