SOS-arsenic.net

ARSENIC MITIGATION UPDATE -

CONTENT:
1. Introduction
2. Arsenic Mitigation Activities by Different Organisations
3. Examples
4. Report: 2003
5. Report: 2004
6. Report: 2006
7. 2007- Arsenic: the looming catastrophe
8. Report: 2007 Arsenic Sludge Disposal-Another Man-made Disaster in Bangladesh?
9. Conclusion

Arsenic Poisoning in Bangladesh

ARSENIC: The Largest Mass Poisoning in History

It is a matter of great concern that at least three crore people in 61 districts are vulnerable to drinking arsenic-contaminated water and over 38,000 of them have already fallen sick. Arsenic contamination has clearly assumed menacing proportions. The WHO had warned Bangladesh of the arsenic threat back in 1993 and the premonition is apparently coming true. It poses a grave risk to people's health in vast areas which are lacking in access to sources of safe water supply. The Department of Public Health and Engineering (DPHE) has launched its arsenic mitigation plan, but obviously it is overtaken by the progress of contamination. Water in the affected areas has been found to have a much higher arsenic content than is permissible What is most striking about the whole arsenic contamination management scheme is the lack of orchestrated efforts to face the challenge. Reports say that in some areas people are drinking water from tubewells that were once marked 'red' to be avoided. This is a clear case of a grave danger being overlooked or, more likely, people have no other source to collect water from. Then there have been reports on availability of law-cost devices that could be used to purify contaminated water. But it is not known why use of such devices has not gained much popularity. Again, it is clear that the concerned departments have failed to launch the needed action . (Editorial, Daily Star). What is more disturbing is that after misusing millions of dollar credit money - the authority is silent, press has shut its mouth whereas the suffering of the rural people continues... Those who are drinking more than 500µg/arsenic in drinking water are now death or seriously sick and those who are drinking less arsenic - time will speak! (October 20, 2007) Field after field run along Green winds sway tender paddy shoots That spreads like open hair In it butterflies ornamented with wings… Mother earth smiles at her fertile pride. In this harvest Asmanis (landless people) have no claim.

1. Introduction

Field after field, forest after after forest, river after river run along,
the poor have no lobby or claim

In Bangladesh, too much of politics is prevailing everywhere and arsenic is not an exception to it. Mainly by virtue of politics and lobbying, few less qualified organisations are making evil efforts to dominate the field, which in turn is adding
another problem to this complicated issue.

The research, seminars, workshops, analysis of problems, prioritizing and decision-making for mitigation of the arsenic problem - are all taking place far away from the affected communities. The village people, the primary stakeholders, are not even aware of the disaster. They know very little about the long- and short-term impact of arsenic on their lives and livelihood. The ordinary people, women and children should be allowed to understand their own problem, they should realize the seriousness of the risks involved, and they should take their own decisions. Others should help them to take the right decisions and to implement these. We should not decide on their behalf. It is their lives at stake. It is their problem and they should prioritize the steps to be taken to ease the situation only then will the proper emphasis be given on the right solutions to be adopted following proper action. Decisions taken from outside, as is being taken now, seriously failed to emphasize the seriousness of the problem. There is no scope for wasting any more time as the life of millions are at stake (Zuberi, December 9, 2003).

Water poisoning in Bangladesh In 1999, a BBC World Service report by Susie Emmett prompted the Bangladesh Government and aid agencies to do more to tackle the problem of drinking water contaminated by arsenic - estimated to affect as many as 70m people. Susie Emmet has returned to Bangladesh to find out if anything has changed. Broken spirits Bangladeshis stare at you deeper, longer and harder than any other people I have come across. But the hardest stares I found to return were of those in great pain or dying because they have been drinking the water they were assured was safe. In the eyes of the man I met at one of the capital's hospitals I saw none of the much-praised resilience that the nation frequented by natural disasters often shows. The exhausted farmer had just made the long overnight bus journey from the far north in search of a cure for his ulcerated and bleeding hands. He told me that his farming supported seven others, most of whom now also show some symptoms of arsenic. But working the land is becoming impossible and he is in debt. I watched a young doctor trying to break the news the farmer least wanted to hear. (BBC, 18 May, 2000, 15:48 GMT )

An international meet on arsenic pollution held here in mid-May and attended by key donors, pulled up the government and national political parties for not doing enough to tackle what they said was an environmental disaster bigger than the gas and nuclear radiation leaks in Bhopal and Chernobyl. ''We share the frustration at the slow pace of the work,'' World Bank country director for Bangladesh, Frederick Temple told the meeting. Mahfuz Anam, editor of Dhaka's English-language newspaper Daily Star felt that not much could be done until the country's political class took interest. ''It is a shame that political parties are indifferent to such a disaster,'' he said, urging lawmakers from all political parties to hold a discussion on the subject (Asia Time,May 26, 2000).

The criticism of the World Bank official came at a review meeting on progress of the projects under the 2002-2003 Annual Development Programme (ADP) at the conference room of the Local Government Engineering Department. State Minister Ziaul Huq Zia presided over the meeting. Poor management, irregularities, involving name-sake NGOs at various stages have caused financial loss to the government as well as deprived millions of people of arsenic-free safe water, the meeting observed (UNB, 2 Oct 2002).

Is there any change or improvement since this meeting? Till July 31, 2004 we do not see any change in attitude.

Arsenic contaminated wells labelled safe for drinking

Inaccurate labelling of wells in India and Bangladesh exposes thousands of villagers to contaminated drinking water

Thousands of villagers in India and Bangladesh may be drinking arsenic contaminated water from wells that are falsely labelled safe. This was recently revealed by researchers from Jadavpur University in Calcutta, who conducted a study on wells in Bangladesh and West Bengal, India. Researchers analysed 2,866 water samples from wells that had been tested and labelled by field workers. They concluded that the arsenic test kits used by the workers are often inaccurate, resulting in scores of mislabelled wells. Villagers are therefore avoiding safe water falsely marked contaminated, and drinking from unsafe wells, marked safe.

The findings were published on the website of Environmental Science & Technology, a peer reviewed journal of the American Chemical Society. Shallow wells, known as tubewells, are used in India and Bangladesh to avoid the region’s surface water, much of which contains bacteria that can cause waterborne diseases like cholera. Starting in the 1970s, international aid organisations dug millions of tubewells but officials soon found that the tubewells were tapping groundwater containing high levels of arsenic.

Numerous studies have linked long-term exposure to arsenic with several types of cancer. The World Health Organisation advocates a maximum arsenic level in water of 10 micrograms per litre -- the standard recently adopted and used by the U S Environmental Protection Agency -- but many developing countries still use a standard of 50 micrograms per litre.

Another recent study by hydrologist Charles Harvey of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology suggests that drilling deeper tubewells might help avoid some of the problems of arsenic contamination. In the November 22 issue of the journal Science, he suggests that pumping water for agricultural irrigation may be influencing the release of arsenic into drinking water (Source: Environmental News Service, November 25, 2002)

Questions

  How old is the arsenic problem of Bangladesh?

   What is its magnitude now?   

  Though lots of funds have been made available so far by different aid agencies including World Bank, SDC, Danida, AusAID, DFID, etc. and a significant number of projects in the name of arsenic mitigation are also being implemented both by the government and non-governmental agencies throughout the country, how far have we been able to mitigate the sufferings of the arsenic affected people?

Is it the proper time to evaluate the achievements so far in this regard?

Is it the same promises has been repeated since 1993 by the same or likely policy makers?

The estimated capital cost to provide arsenic safe water to 29 million people exposed to arsenic content exceeding Bangladesh Standard (50 µg/, WHO 10 µg/l) varies from Taka 2.6 to 36 billion at 2001 price level depending on the type of options.
However, the cost will be significantly reduced if the people in the low contamination areas are mobilized to use the safe tubewells in the area.
Provision of water satisfying Bangladesh standard for arsenic will reduce the risk of incidence of excess lifetime skin cancer in the country from estimated 415,000 (0.321% of total population) to 55,000 (0.043%). An estimated, 1.875 million tubewells (25% of total tubewell) worth Taka 8.44 billion are likely to be abandoned for producing arsenic contaminated water exceeding Bangladesh Standard. About 73% of existing shallow tubewells providing safe water to 75 million (58%) people in the country may yield water with elevated levels of arsenic in future. A well designed active water quality monitoring program to test the safe tubewells at least once in a year is needed to be installed. The estimated yearly cost of monitoring of safe tubewell once in each year by field test kit is Taka 176 million. An institutional arrangement with greater role of Local Government is needed for installation, operation and maintenance of alternative water supply options and monitoring of water quality at the local levels (F. Ahmed, 2002).

The development partners have pumped millions of dollars into various mitigation programmes ever since dangerous level of poison in underground water was detected way back in 1993.

More funds are reported to be pouring in but the question is are they reaching the people who have been most affected by this rapidly increasing menace around the country? Several NGOs have been given authority through the Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE), to offer low cost services to prevent diseases caused by arsenic poisoning from spreading.

One such project for the 'poorest of the poor requires a group of fifty to donate as much as Tk. 4,500 in advance to receive a safe tubewell.
But the government seems to have forgotten that there are many 'poorest of the poor' who would not be able to gather any money, least of all the required amount (The Daily Star, Editorial, 22.06. 03).

The future roles for multi-agency efforts were discussed by the UN Administrative Committee on Coordination (ACC) during the meeting of its Inter-agency Steering Committee on Sustainable Development for Water Supply and Sanitation which was held in Beirut from 29 September to 1 October 1998 and attended by representatives of UN/DESA, UNDP, UNEP, UNICEF, UNIDO, IDNDR, ESCAP, ESCWA, UNESCO, WHO, CBD, and WSSCC. Agreements at this meeting for agency roles were as follows (WHO, October 24, 2001):

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2. Arsenic Mitigation Activities by Different Organisations

Department of Public Health Engineering

Bangladesh Arsenic Mitigation Water Supply Project

UNICEF

NGO Forum for Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation

BRAC

Dhaka Community Hospital

Asia Arsenic Network

Grameen Bank

Proshika

AQUA Consultants

Bangladesh Engineering and Technological Services

Agency	Roles
WHO	Health impacts and epidemiology Patient treatment through nutrition
UNICEF	Public information campaigns Mitigation through use of alternative supply sources
UNESCO and IAEA	Hydro-geology and geochemistry
UNIDO	Treatment for arsenic removal
UNIDO and FAO	Food security and agricultural aspects

But till today (October, 2003) we could not find any of their activities in Fridpur district, one of the worst arsenic affected areas of Bangladesh.

Afsan Chowdhury (Senior Assistant Editor,The Daily Star, 15. 01. 02) describes straight to the heart:

• WHAT became obvious was the extreme contempt in which the official technocrats and bureaucrats held ordinary people. The entire idea of development in Bangladesh is based on the GO-NGO co-operation model and the people have little role to play in this.
  
  
• NGOs are generically fund seekers and now provider of employment. Most of them have almost no reality beyond this. And this generally grovelling bunch conveniently represents the public face in the eyes of the donors who ultimately decide policies.
  
  
• Not because they want to but because they have to. The ability of the national counterparts is so low that they would not be able to formulate a policy without donor support. They are unable to disagree either because that might mean fund cuts.
  
  
• So it all ends up in the same basket.

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3. Examples

Some Examples

NGO Forum responsible for Arsenic Mitigation advertising in Faridpur for Pond Sand Filter (PSF) but in practice it has become a garbage!

A Pond Sand Filter (inclusive renovation of the pond ) costs about 150 000 thousands Taka (1 US Dollar= 60 Taka). Paradox is that close to the pond there is a tubewell painted green that contain arsenic far below the standard. It was not necessary to make an expensive PSF here. NGO Forum needs basic knowledge on project implementation! When we asked for a project report at NGO Forum office in Faridpur, they said, "We just distribute the project to other NGOs."Officers were not friendly to us!

NGO Forum "The NGO Forum maintains close collaboration with all relevant government agencies (DPHE, NIPSOM, LGED, etc.), Universities, UN bodies (UNICEF, World Bank, etc.), Donors, DPHE-DANIDA, BAMWSP, as well as other NGOs. It has established an Arsenic Cell as well as undertaking water quality testing, and shares all its findings of interventions at field level with all stakeholders. It is extending cooperation to others at field level for identifying patients with arsenicosis and for testing water samples The NGO Forum has developed and produced two posters and two leaflets on arsenic contamination in consultation with the communication and arsenic experts of different agencies" From NGO Forum Web. We have not seen any successful mitigation event in Faridpur district, one of the most arsenic affected areas of Bangladesh. We wanted have poster and booklet at NGO Forum office but we have to pay about Tk. 300 (six days salary of a woman worker in Faridpur). Is it possible for the poor to buy such information? When we pointed out that they have many wrong results, specially one that we determined a high arsenic concentration (300 µg/l) at North Alipur but their representative certified to be of best quality. The NGO Forum Chief replied, "They give training, equipment and chemicals to their representative organisations, and not responsible for results."

Arsenic Removal Plants that we have examined in Bangladesh are not funtioning and producesarsenic contaminated water above standard. Unfortunately, people are not informed!

80 percent of Arsenic Removal Plants (ARPs) installed in arsenic affected villages of West Bengal, India are not useful This is the 6th report of our study on Arsenic Removal Plants (ARPs) during last 5 years. *Our study shows about 80% of 600 ARPs we have studied from arsenic affected villages of West Bengal are not useful. About 2000 ARPs have been installed in arsenic affected districts of West Bengal. Average cost of each plant is around 1500 US $. So we had spent around 3 million US $ (equivalent to 15 crore of rupees) for ARPs. Bangladesh and many other Asian countries are also buying ARPs. ( School of Environmental Studies, Jadavpur University, Calcutta; India, May 2004).

Two Bucket Treatment Unit

The two bucket treatment unit (2BTU) is now the most widely implemented household arsenic removal technology in the region. Since 1998, more than 13,000 2BTUs have been installed in Bangladesh, and program staff claim that, as a result of intensive arsenic awareness and social marketing campaigns, as many as 90 per cent of these units are still in use," reported by Water and Sanitation Program 1818 H Street NW, Washington DC 20433 USA.
But where are those in use?

Two bucket filter to remove arsenic was introduced by Danish Aid and NGO Forum, DPHE. Danida introduced a year ago two bucket system replacing one poison to other. A huge amount of money has been spent to make this project a success. People have rejected this project. If you visit villages, you'll find villagers are using the buckets for using other purposes. If you ask villagers, they say, "First the water does not taste, colour of water becomes red and it is difficult to use the method!" It was never published how much tax payers money was spent! We could not find any single unit is in use. But NGO Forum office said that two bucket system is used in the villages! We did not spent any more time to visit here again. DPHE-DANIDA Arsenic Mitigation Pilot Project: A pilot project under DPHE-DANIDA has been taken up in the south-eastern part of Bangladesh. The estimated cost of the project is about Tk 70 7 057 000 (Tk 60= I US dollar). The project is designed for three years and a half (up to June’2004) and will be implemented in two phases.

Failure of Danish Development Help
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4. Report: 2003

In May 2003 Dr. M.I. Zuberi, of Rajshahi University visited village Uporajarampur, Chapainawbgonj known for its arsenic contamination. During his visit Dr Zuberi saw there were some dug-wells provided by the Christian Commission for Development in Bangladesh (CCDB) with the help of Christian Aid. There were also some Rainwater Harvesting Tanks provided by IDE. But unfortunately there is no water in either the dug-wells or the tanks.

He observed that women were coming to the dug-wells for water but finding them empty they went instead to 'red' painted tube wells and filled their pitchers with contaminated water. When asked, a woman said they have been doing this for several weeks now ever since the dry season began.
Dr. Zuberi's team visited several houses in two villages and found several dug-wells did not contain any water. As a result most households were compelled to drink arsenic contaminated water. They organized several meetings with the villagers and found the villagers were aware of the situation; but said they have no alternative but to drink the contaminated water! Dr. Zuberi advised the villagers to use arsenic removing filters, but when they went to buy some they were not able to do so. And as a consequence their little children, would-be mothers, young growing sons and daughters, are all forced to drink arsenic contaminated water knowing well the consequence.
A later report by Dr.Zuberi says: After seeing my report, the dug wells at village Uporajarampur have been renovated by CCDB, and I give thanks for their prompt action. All but one dug well now has water and the people are happy but one dug well in Durgapur which became dry even after renovation (near Abdul Mannan's house, local Forum Organizer) needs more attention.
Dr. Zuberi said: "What I have seen in the villages Rajarampur and Uporajarampur two villages of Chapai Nawabganj district; - the area where arsenic was first detected in Bangladesh - is, although numerous teams, agencies, scientists have visited this area, today villagers are reluctant to talk to anyone. They say 'you come and talk, take photographs; nothing has been done"
The scenario existing at Rajarampur is exceptionally grave. This very large, thickly populated village has been affected very badly by arsenic. There are now many patients suffering from arsenicosis but only four dug-wells and two arsenic free tube-wells are available. Proshika installed an Arsenic Treatment Plant, but that has been out of order for some time. The result is there is heavy pressure on the few sources available and many families do not bother to collect drinking water from any of these sources. Instead they use the contaminated tube wells. A similar situation exists in the neighboring village of Haripur where 90% of the tube-wells are contaminated. In this village there are only three dug-wells for the entire village.
In some cases we observed the negligence of the villagers because they do not want to collect water from a distance of 1/4 Km. Some collect only enough water for drinking but they are cooking with the arsenic contaminated water. They often drink this water too. Dr. Zuberi said he observed that the level of awareness is low, and they tended to give little importance to the possibility of arsenic toxicity.

Why do people die in arsenic poisoning? The contamination of wells with arsenic is one of the greatest environmental disasters being faced today and must rank as one of the worst in recent times. At the request of contacts in West Bengal I researched the matter and found a technology that can get rid of all traces of arsenic. Since then I have tried to mobilise public opinion to find finance for implementation and have also talked to the West Bengal Government, people and authorities in Bangladesh, US AID, UNICEF, DIFID, SIDA and other aid donors My own estimate is that one person is dying every 15 minutes and millions are suffering in illness. But very few politicians and bureaucrats live in the affected villages and the people dying are considered to be of no consequence. Worse still, the token efforts of the World Bank and other aid agencies has added obstacles to solving the problem. If the captain of the Titanic broadcast a May Day message, most of these people would have commissioned studies on iceberg flows and common sense home spun ways of avoiding icebergs rather than sending ships to take the passengers off. My conclusion is that: the problem is chronic, the contamination is irreversible and worsening, no other safe water sources can substitute the wells, aid agencies helped produce the problem due to lack of care about environmental impact, and are today full of ill considered patronising solutions, the solution must fit village culture, be robust and be commercially sustainable, technology exists to solve the problem but it will cost a lot, no one cares sufficiently since its is all theoretical for them. (V. Chand, UK, 2003).

During our project work at village Kuzurdia, Faridpur we observed three deaths in one month (July 2003).This was not reported in any news paper. All these people were drinking arsenic contaminated water above 500µg/l. There are many patients in this village. We found that there is a shallow layer that contains arsenic below stanard. We made arsenic free tubewells, dug well and distributed clay pot filters to the affected people. Paradox is that those who were dyeing did not know the reason.

PROJECT REPORT AUGUST 2003

Bhatutola and Malipara, Chhatrajitpur Union, Chapai Nawabganj District

These villages were the first known as one of the worst arsenic affected areas of Bangladesh and most of NGOs and Government are engaged in this area. Prof. M. I. Zuberi, Rajshahi University, Bangladesh reports:

The villages are Bhatutola and Malipara, Chhatrajitpur Union, Chapai Nawabganj District, one of the worst arsenic affected areas of Bangladesh:

This write-up aims at to let our friends know the existing situation of arsenic contamination and mitigation in rural Bangladesh:

June 28th, 2003:

I visited Meherpur arsenic affected villages of Alampur and Bholadangh during 25-26 June, 2003 with the workers of Church of Bangladesh (CoB) who are working there for arsenic mitigation and social development. We traveled to the remote villages by motor-bikes to spend a day with them. What we saw and what have been reported by the villagers are reported here for Arsenic Mitigation Researchers.

The village Alampur is inhabited by 400/450 families mostly small and poor peasants, majority ( about 300) are very poor. About 5/6 had already died, 130 patients had been identified in 2002 and 149 during 2003 by the COB workers. Many of the affected are young children and women.

The second village, Bholadanga, with 250 to 300 families mostly land less peasants and some low-caste cobblers/cleaners is more acutely affected; 35 persons died so far; 70 to 80 are in bad condition with visible symptoms; again many are young . The CoB-Arsenic Mitigation Project (AMP) with the help of Christian Aid’s fund had tested all the 204 tube –wells in 2002 and found 70% contaminated with more than 50 ppb arsenic.

Only those affected having visible symptoms on skin have been provided with vitamins A,E,C for one month, yet many could not be supplied with because of limited funds; less serious patients were not attended for.

The villagers were asked to drink water from ‘green’ tube-wells; 3 old dug-wells have been renovated and 4 dug-wells newly established; many families consider safe-water sources long distance away from their homes and often drink water from ‘red’ tube-wells.
While we were discussing arsenic mitigation, a little girl was noticed washing hands and then drinking from a ‘red’ tube well; when interrupted she discontinued and said that the nearest ‘green’ tube-well is several houses away.
I observed that most of the house-holds do not have enough water-pots (earthen-ware pitchers traditionally used by the poor for storing water) for day’s supply; one pot is the usual and they go for re-filling it when becomes empty; so running out of water and using the nearest tube-well , though ‘red’ is very common. When asked about this many women talking to us agreed that this happens at night or during rains or when the person is very tired and thirsty; they also reported that it is difficult to stop the kids who developed the habit of drinking water directly from the tube-wells

In the low-caste village, Paschimpara of Bholadanga where there are about 120 families there are some 50 hand tube-wells, all marked ‘red’ except 4/5; many of the 35 deaths occurred here. Villagers described how they have been affected – since 6-7 years, first not knowing that it is arsenic from tube-wells doing these.

One very interesting incidence was reported which indicate how diverse are the problems relating to mitigation are; the section of the villagers have been collecting water from an arsenic-free tube-well several houses away, there was a social dispute and quarrel as a result that group took away the ‘tube-well head’ after there use so that those distant households can not collect water from this ‘green’ tube well. Though the tube well was supplied by the Government Department, the distant house-hold collectors were barred from collecting water, as a result they had been drinking water from contaminated for last 12 days !

Another important aspect of arsenic mitigation came up during a discussion with local news-paper reporters and leaders in Alampur village.
There are more than 100 Shallow Tube Wells (STWs) in this arsenic–affected village which are using the same aquifer as the contaminated hand tube-wells. Many are used almost round the year and 12/14 hours a day. There are 45 STWs in the other affected village.
They are intensely used during the Boro (dry season) paddy cultivation and must have been importing tons of arsenic to the surface ! There is no soil test done yet.
When I requested them as leaders of the village why not introduce ‘wheat’ during winter (Boro) season crop which require much less water, they said that they do not have a suitable HYV wheat for their region ! Why not local variety ? Yield less they said. Why not maize or vegetables ?
They agreed that that could save soil and produce same return. I mentioned that intensive Paddy cultivation is the most damaging agricultural activity- we must reduce rice consumption and cultivation if we want to save our environment.

I happen to visit Uporajarampur, Chapai Nawabganj, a village much known for its arsenic contamination. There are dug-wells being provided by CCDB with the help of Christian Aid’s support; there are rain water harvest tanks provided by IDE. But there is neither any water in the dug-wells nor in the tanks. I saw women coming for water from the dug-well and find no water , went to the ‘red’ tube well and fill the pitcher – I asked her and she replied they are doing it since the dry season set in ( for several weeks). We had visited the several houses in two villages and saw several dug-wells dry and many households are compelled to drink arsenic-water. We had several meetings; and the villagers are aware enough about the situation; but they HAVE NO ALTERNATIVE !

I mentioned about arsenic –removing filters; they want it, they want to buy it, they wanted my help, but I can not. No filters can are on sale ! Can you imagine the frustration of the villagers , their little children, would-be mothers, young growing sons and daughters , all are forced to drink arsenic contaminated water – knowingly !

A completely different picture has been reported by one member of our team from Village Ulipur of Bogra. The young volunteer, one of our 4th year students (S.M.Emdadul Huq), when visiting this village was surprised to see that the villagers have removed the ‘RED’ paint of the tube wells and are drinking water from these tube well. Most of the villagers gave no importance to this subject – arsenic- and did not want to waste (?) time talking about it. He managed to interview Mr Abul Hossain. Arsenic was first detected from his tube well in this village; he re-sunk his tube-well three times but failed to get of this dreadful poison; the local DPHE selected 4 members of his family for training on arsenic mitigation and gave them 3 pitcher –filters for arsenic removal. However, they do not use water from these; they use water from the contaminated tube-wells ! More surprising, there already are 5 deaths ( 2 women and 3 men) from arsenic poisoning ! Each and every member of the family has symptoms of arsenic toxicity on their body; there are warts on hands and feet; swollen belly; none can work; feel too weak and breathless.

We wonder what is the effect of DPHE (Department of Public Health) training, of all the TV and radio ads about awareness. I shall visit the village next week to examine the real situation.

During the 1st week of this month I visited villages in Pabna where CCDB is working for arsenic mitigation. There I came to know one Mr. Sohrab Pramanik of Rajajpur village (Pabna) did not allow the workers to paint his tube well ‘RED’ knowing (and the workers tested water twice in his presence) that it is arsenic affected. All the persuasion failed, he is still drinking and force his family members continue to drink water from the contaminated tube well. The CCDB worker will take me to that person during my next visit and I shall try to know his reasons.

The situation, the process of spreading arsenic to new tube wells has assumed a unconceivable dimension. Last week I visited villages just two km from the Rajshahi University Campus. The villagers of Kismat Kukhundi said that several of their tube-wells are now labeled ‘red’, there are many untested; we sampled and found three with as high as 616 ppb !

I also want to report what I have seen and the villagers reported during my visit on 08/06/03 to Rajarampur and Uporajarampur villages of Chapai Nawabganj disdtrict; this is the area where arsenic was first detected in Bangladesh and numerous teams, agencies, scientists visited this area. The villagers are too reluctant to talk, they said ‘you come and talk, take photographs; nothing has been done’

The scenario of Rajarampur is very grave; this is a very large and thickly populated village. Has been very badly affected with arsenic, there are many patients. Only four Dug-wells and two arsenic free tube-wells are there; Proshika (one of the largest NGOs of Bangladesh) has installed an Arsenic Treatment Plant which is long been out of order. There is heavy pressure on these sources and many families are not taking the trouble of collecting drinking water from these sources. They simply use contaminated tube wells; families of Latifur Rahman, Nawsher Ali, Shukur Uddin, Enamul haq, Faris Uddin are a few.

Similar situation exist in the neighboring village Haripur, 90% tube-wells affected, there are only 3 dug-wells for the entire village population

We noticed the villagers’ negligence in some cases. They do not want to collect water from 1/4th of a Km distance; some only collect drinking water but cook with water from arsenic contaminated wells. They often casually drink arsenic water, giving little seriousness to arsenic. I observed that the level of awareness is low, so they tend not to give importance to the toxicity of arsenic.

Current situation of arsenic crisis in Bangladesh (July 7, 2003):

We visited several arsenic affected villages of ‘Bera’ Upozila of Pabna (Western Bangladesh) during July 6 & 7, 2003. What we saw and what is said by the villagers are reported here for arsenic mitigation workers and agencies. We concentrate on the village ‘Syedpur’ which was reported to have 450 to 500 households and very badly affected by arsenic. More than 70% of the tube wells ( about two hundred) are identified and marked ‘red’ There are more than 200 patients with visual symptoms, we saw several in two families

The most important point is that many households are observed to use the ‘red’ tube wells for drinking and cooking. We had discussion with families of Isakuddin, Jinnah, Eunus ali, Dulal all from ‘Madhyapara’ of Syedpur – all are using water from ‘red’ tube wells. When asked why they are doing this following history came out.

There were reports of a large number of arsenicosis patients from this village 3 to 4 years back and several deaths had occurred. Workers from NGO Forum (they said) had screened their tube wells about 2 years back and marked the contaminated tube wells ‘red’ asking them not to drink water from these arsenic contaminated wells. Many wells about 70% were contaminated. When asked what they should do, they were advised to use ‘green’ wells. For those who do not have ‘green’ wells nearby requested alternative sources, the workers wanted to come back with solution later. But they did not. In the meantime they resumed drinking from contaminated wells.

Several months back, doctor and workers from Dhaka Community Hospital visited the village, collected blood, hair, nail and other samples for testing. They also given ‘Cards’ for each members of the families. But they said the had no feed back

Many other teams visited them, interviewed them, collected samples of human tissue, vegetables, tube well water, cooked materials. But nobody came back with any results, remedy or any other support.

The local branch of Gonosasthya Kendra (GK) has been providing some vitamins to the worst affected patients. Only last month initiative was taken to dig two ‘dug wells’ by GK but these are yet to be completed

The village community have no eagerness to adopt mitigation measures because they have lost all hope and responded vaguely to our suggestions of rain-water, solar removal of arsenic, solar treatment of pond water, charcoal/sand filtration and other remedial measures which they can adopt

Many patients are in need of intensive attention here, in a number of villages, there should be thorough mitigation action through community involvement; this need is important to bring back hope to the affected and save them from rapid degradation of the society. They are physically and morally on the decline ! the scene is simply pathetic ! A young girl of 15 named Nargis came to show her amputated leg, I could not stand the scene. We need to give immediate attention to the situation with a socio-economic approach

I had to go to a village in Chapai Nawabganj (Northern Bangladesh) last week for some mitigation activity. I was taking the weights of the children who are still drinking arsenic contaminated water (!) even after warning. Two dug wells have been provided but the water is not acceptable; it is smelly!

I came across with two young girls in their teens with babies on their laps. I talked to them and learned that they are from the same village and it is their babies in their laps. The babies and their teenage mothers were clearly seen to be very weak, underweight, and malnourished. When I asked them about their source of drinking water, they indicated the same ‘red’ tube well. I requested them to stand on the scale, after several moments the smart one stepped up first; she weighed only 35 kg, the second lady, 35.5 kg. When I requested them to allow their little ones to weigh, they readily agreed, the first one is 5.5 kg and second, 5.1 kg, their age is 12 and 13 months respectively

These two teenage mothers represent a young generation who have been on arsenic-contaminated drinking water for their entire lives and now giving birth to babies who are already exposed to arsenic before they were born. Arsenic travels freely in blood and readily cross the placenta. Their extreme underweight, frail bodies, and pathetic looks haunt me.We are likely to see more and more like these young mothers, and frail babies in our villages. Is this to be the picture of future Bangladesh villages! How will these future generations of villagers continue with agriculture, to give hard labour and to feed us!

Arsenic menace takes serious turn in Jessore

The Independent, CORRESPONDENT, JESSORE, Sept. 2, 2003

Arsenic contamination has taken a serious turn in Abhoynagar upazila of the district recently. Presence of arsenic beyond permissible limit has been detected in the water of about 3,300 tube-wells at different villages in Abhoynagar upazila of the district. Symptoms of arsenic-related diseases have been found on the bodies of 145 persons. Despite red marks the people of the affected villages are compelled to drink the water of the red-marked tube-wells as they have no other alternative source of safe drinking water.

It is learnt from sources in the Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE) that the Padakkhep Manobik Unnayan Kendra, an NGO, conducted a survey at the villages under eight unions of Abhoynagar upaila and in the areas under Noapara pourasabha during the last three months under the guidance of the Bangladesh Arsenic Mitigation and Water Supply Project. The survey team tested the water of 19,068 tube-wells out of the total of 99,494. Of them the water of 3,300 tube-wells contained excessive quantity of arsenic.

According to a report of the World Health Organisation (WHO), the tolerable limit of arsenic is 0.1 gram per litre of water. But according to the DPHE the tolerable quantity of arsenic is 0.5 miligram per litre of water. Samples of water collected from the tube-wells of different villages under Abhoynagar upazila contained an average of 12 milligrams of arsenic pre litre of water.

It is learnt from a source in the DPHE, Abhoynagar upazila that 310 tube-wells out of the total 1.643 of Prembag UP contain arsenic beyond tolerable quantity. A total of 191 tube-wells out of the 1,619 of Shiddhipasha UP, 117 out of the 971 tube-wells of Paira UP, 143 tube-wells out of the 1,225 of Chalshia UP, 564 tube-wells of Sridharpar UP, 244 tube-wells out of the total of 1,695 of Baghatia UP, 102 tube-wells out of the total of 1,166 of Shurorara UP, 53 tube-wells out of the total 768 of Sundali UP and 1,377 tube-wells out of the total of 7,694 tube-wells under Noapara Pourasabha contain arsenic beyond the tolerable limit.

All the tube-wells have been red-marked. The NGO authorities and the officials of the DPHE had advised the people of the localities not to drink the water of the red-marked tube-wells. But in absence of any source of pure and arsenic-free water they are compelled to drink the forbidden water risking their lives. Although the water of over 3,000 tube-wells under a single upazila has been contaminated with arsenic poison, no steps have so far been taken by the government to sink deep tube-wells to ensure supply of arsenic-free water for the people of the arsenic affected areas

Meanwhile, the Noapara unit of Rotary Club has claimed that the organisation has sunk six deep tube-wells so far.

A competent source in the Upazila DPHE told that efforts were on to sink deep tube-wells in the arsenic affected areas on an emergency basis by the government to mitigate the sufferings of the people under the upazila.

Comment

The suggestion was made in a preliminary report after a study in Jhenidah, Chuadanga and Jessore districts, conducted jointly by local and foreign experts. Use of deep tubewell has been suggested as a safe option in the face of arsenic contamination of groundwater in the country. The Tk 250 million (1US dollar= Tk 60) study was undertaken by the Department of Public Health and Engineering (DPHE) with financial assistance from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

As per the master plan, four arsenic mitigation projects have been proposed. These are: groundwater development and rural water supply in Keshabpur, Jessore; rehabilitation and expansion of water supply system in Chuadanga, Jhenidah and Moheshpur pourashavas; supply of arsenic-free water to socially vulnerable groups and setting up of thana arsenic mitigation centres

Our study shows that almost all deep tube wells in neighbouring Faridpur district are arsenic contaminated. Geological deposition is also almost the same.

Our experience reveals that most of the deep tube wells are arsenic contaminated. Government and others want to sink deep tube wells without taking care of contaminating deep aquifers. But sinking deep wells are more profitable! Our work in Faridpur show that it is possble to find arsenic free water at shallow depths.

National Policy for Arsenic Mitigation

The draft has been prepared by a team of experts under the supervision of LGRD Minister Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan (The Daily Star, 10. 05. 03).

• The policy highlights emergency steps to provide alternative safe drinking water options to arsenic-affected areas, rehabilitation of serious arsenic patients and research on arsenic in food chain, sources in the Local Government and Rural Development Ministry (LGRD) said.
• Under the policy, all tubewells and irrigation wells will be screened and monitored regularly to identify which have been contaminated. Arsenic patients and people at risk will also be identified to provide remedy.
• "Priority would be given to surface water options over groundwater sources. The options in order of priority include dug well, pond sand filter, rain water harvesting, deep hand-tubewells, arsenic removal by using chemicals and pipe water supply system," an official said.
• The policy outlines emergency steps to ensure alternative water supply. It said villages with more than 80 per cent of contaminated tubewells will come under the emergency steps. Besides, pockets of high contamination having high number of arsenic patients in villages with otherwise low level of arsenic in water might also get emergency response.
• Villages that have between 40 and 80 per cent of the wells contaminated would get medium-term response. For long-term response, only proven and sustainable tech nology options would be promoted.
• For municipal or urban water supply, the policy placed stress on providing treated surface water or bringing safe water from distant sources as an option. But here, removal of arsenic sludge is a must, it said.
• About treatment of arsenic patients, the draft policy provides for specific case management and a database on national prevalence of arsenicosis or arsenic contamination of humans. For serious arsenic patients, there will be a provision for treatment at all public hospitals. Besides, seriously affected patients will be rehabilitated, it said.
• The policy also proposed establishment of a network of well-equipped laboratories and steps to tap international expertise in areas where local expertise is yet to develop.
• All stakeholders will work within the framework of the policy, and government agencies will administer the policy in a coordinated way, it said.

Such policies or targets have been announced several times - too much words little work. THE government never took the matter seriously but they were always concerned that the crisis never became a political embarrassment. Because the BNP government had rejected arsenic mitigation proposal in 1993, and never taken the problem seriously, the then AL government was willing to criticize the past.

. The prime Minister Sheikh Hasina (October 2, 1999) said the arsenic contamination in tubewell water was first detected in the country's northern region in 1993. But the then government did not take any action to contain the menace which today has taken an alarming shape. She said her government has taken up the matter seriously and succeeded in creating public awareness and drawing the attention of the donor agencies and development partners. Considering the gravity of the problem, organisations like World Bank and Swiss Development Corporation have come forward with helping hands and the concerned ministry has finally drawn up the BAMWSP to combat the menace. The prime minister noted that a number of scientists and research activists, under their own initiatives, have already innovated a number of devices to combat this problems. The function was also addressed, by LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Zillur Rahman, Health and Family Welfare Minister Salahuddin Yusuf, Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Communications Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, General Secretary of Gopalganj District Awami League Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, Acting Country Director of the World Bank Mohsin Ali Khan and Acting Resident Coordinator of UNDP Andre Klap.

The prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia declared arsenic problem as one of its 100-day agenda for action but in reality nothing has changed.

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5. Report; 2004

Latest News

Ailing population adds up to more than total: Over 80 Million People are at Risk of Arsenic Poisoning

Disease and maladies in Bangladesh have reached such an extent that the cumulative number of the affected has exceeded the total number of the population, according to compiled data provided by health experts and the government in 2003. More than 70 million people are infected with tuberculosis and 4 million with diabetes, 7 million suffer from asthma and an equal number from chronic obstructive lung diseases, 10 million have kidney diseases, over 10 million carry the thal assaemia gene and over 80 million people are at risk of arsenic poisoning. An estimated 37 per cent of the population suffer from heart diseases and 10 per cent from some sort of hearing impairment. Diarrhoea is responsible for 21 per cent of child deaths and pneumonia and other infectious diseases claim the rest.

More than over 250,000 children die every year before they are one year old. Five to six thousand children develop cancer and the country is on the verge of an HIV epidemic. If the data provided by experts and the government are correct, this is where the country's health, or lack thereof, stands. Tuberculosis is still the major killer disease. Government estimates say 50 to 60 per cent of the population are infected with tuberculosis. Nearly 300,000 new individuals contract the disease and 70,000 die every year.

The National Tuberculosis Control Programme has an annual target of detecting of 70 per cent of the infectious cases but manages only 34 per cent on average. The rate of cure has been 84 per cent among detected cases against a target of 85 per cent. Mass poisoning with arsenic remains at catastrophic levels. Groundwater of 60 of 64 districts is considered affected, rendering over 80 million people at risk of chronic arsenic poisoning. Arsenic contamination of the food chain though groundwater irrigation is a newly discovered health threat.

Over seven million people suffer asthma, an allergic respiratory disease, and 4 million of them are children, said speakers at a national conference on allergy and immunology in March 2004. Environmental pollution, use of newer drugs, rampant adulteration and use of artificial flavour agents in food have been added recently to the list of already-blamed allergens like dust, flower grains and certain food. The health and family welfare minister said while speaking as chief guest at the inaugural ceremony of the conference that about 200,000 people develop allergic reactions every year after taking newly-marketed drugs.

The WHO also estimates that 9 million people suffer some sort of hearing impairment, a majority of which (over 50 per cent) are because of infections and thus preventable. About 8,000 estimated snakebites occur in the country with a mortality rate of more than 20 per cent.

A population-based surveillance by the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Diseases Research, Bangladesh in a rural community in southwest Bangladesh revealed that mortality in suicide is 39.6 per 100,000 people, which translates to more than 500,000 deaths per year if the incidence is assumed to be homogenous. Though the mortality rate has been reduced over the past two decades, diarrhoeal diseases still account for 21 per cent of all child deaths in the country and contribute a big number to the 2.5 million deaths per year of children aged less than 5 years in developing countries.

Respiratory infections claim uncounted numbers of deaths every year. Kala-azar has also re-emerged. Malaria claimed over 500 deaths in 2003. Nipah encephalitis emerged as a new threat to public health last January and dengue stuck the country for the fifth successive year this year. An estimated 13,000 HIV patients reside in the country which is on the verge of facing an epidemic outbreak of the killer disease due to heightened risk factors and risky behaviours (New Age, October 9, 2004).

Arsenic levels in Barisal division alarming August 29, 2004 10,000 affected, 32 die in 5 years: Even deep tube wells contaminated at places Arsenic contamination of groundwater is alarming in Barisal with about 10,000 people affected. At least 32 people died of arsenicosis in five years. Even water of deep tubewell is contaminated with the deadly poison at places, according a recent survey jointly done by the NGO Forum and the Dhaka Community Hospital. Of the dead, 22 are in Barisal Sadar, eight in Babuganj and two in Agailjhara upazilas in the district. The survey identified 334 arsenicosis patients only in Babuganj upazila. Conditions in the Sadar, Hizla and Muladi upazilas are similar, it said Water of most of the shallow tube wells in the areas is contaminated with arsenic, which has affected a large number of people in different areas of the district. Conditions in Bhola and Patuakhali districts are no better. Arsenic has also been found in at least 24 deep tube wells in Barisal division-- 18 of those in Barisal, five in Bhola and one in Pirojpur. All shallow tube wells are arsenic- contaminated in 200 villages in 40 upazilas in Barisal division, the survey revealed. Presence of arsenic is "alarmingly high" in some of the shallow tube wells. According to statistics, there are 16, 776 deep and 50,153 shallow tube wells in ten upazilas of Barisal district. These were sunk by the Department of Public Health and Engineering (DPHE), different NGOs and by private users to ensure safe drinking water. The deep tube wells found contaminated include those at Shahid Zia College in Nazirpur; Proshika office in Sahakati; Mahmudia Madrasha and Koira High School in Charbaria in Barisal Sadar upazila and at several houses in Uzirpur and Babuganj upazilas. Arsenic has also been found beyond the permissible level in some of the deep tube wells sunk in Gazaria, Daulatkhan and Chafession upazilas in Bhola district. Once people were motivated by NGOs and different government agencies to use groundwater for safety. People are confused now as they are advised to use surface water again (Daily Star, August 29, 2004).

Community Participation

Arsenic mitigation activities by international organizations and major NGOs are generally undertaken jointly with a local NGO active in one particular village. The local NGO encourages villagers to form a committee so that the committee may act as the principal body to organize mitigation work.

According to AAN experience, members of such a committee are decided among the village leaders. One of the main functions of the committee is to collect funds to operate and maintain a newly installed option of alternative source of safe water. The running of the fund including the management of money is under the supervision of the local NGO during the initial stages. The committee needs some experience to become an independent running organization.

In practice, it is seen that only the rich becomes the member. In most cases 10 members selected from their family or friends and others are not allowed to collect water. We found in Fursa, Kanaipur Union, Village Tambulkhana dug wells and a deep tube well are constructed by SIDA/BRDB, although tube wells contain arsenic far below Bangladesh standard. The poor is unable to pay Tk. 3000-5000.In Noakhali we also found deep tube wells are sunk inside the house who pays Tk. 5000. Many complains that they do not use the water because it is saline and tastes after cow dung!

NGOs exploiting hill people: Larma The Parbattya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity (PCJSS) chief Jotirindriya Bodhipriya Larma alias Santu Larma on Sunday alleged that NGOs (non-government organisation) are "exploiting" the poor in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT). "I got complaints from people who failed to repay loan installments", he told a discussion on Micro Credit Activities, held at the Hill District Council Auditorium at Rangamati. "NGOs are being used to serve the purpose of vested quarters. I am personally oppose to the NGO theory," he said. Instead of developing human resources, the NGOs are busy in business", Larma said (Daily Star, June 1, 2004). While setting an arsenic free well at Lal Miah's house, Char Hazari Union, Noakhali, n May 12, 2004 we were surprised to see a big gathering of women quarreling with Grammen Bank's representative. The women said, "We want to pay the whole debt as the interest rate is very high, but the represenntative does not want to receive it. He wants only the installment!" We found all over the country many poor are unable to pay such high rate installments (about 25-28% effectice interest). At this place an expensive deep tubewell was set by DPHE/NGO about a year ago. Nobody uses this well because of saline and iron rich water.Our shallow well pours water far below Bangladesh Stanard (arsenic).

Arsenic Threatens 48,8,650 in Brahmanbaria District, Bangladesh

Two hundred and sixteen persons were affected with arsenic-related diseases in Nabinagar upazila. This is because of consumption of arsenic contaminated water. Water of 23,663 tube wells in 195 villages were detected to be arsenic contaminated. Water of all tube-wells in 34 villages of the upazila are highly contaminated with arsenic. The most severely-affected villages are: Chander Char, Das Kanda, Sadekpur, Daponia, Islampur, Kamalpur, Lakhawra, Radhanagor, Bangaura North, Asrabpur, Pandabnagar, Padmanagor, Bhatpukur, Kajzlla, Barashikonika, Chalikhula, Chakrakhukla, Buldibari, Gunpukuria, Bajebishara, Piara Kandi, Char Manik Kandi, Dawlathpur, Kazirgong, Sampur, Kazimabad, Damkandi, Manipur, Nandua, Badruksa Bari, Bandukhar, Nasrabari, Ghiara and Rasulpur. Water in all tube-wells of 58 villages are not worth consumption.There are 48,8,650 people in 195 arsenic affected villages. They are living in a very vulnerable situation. The Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE), Brahmanbaria district conducted a survey and examined all 28,068 tube-wells and found water of 23, 663 tube wells were highly contaminated with arsenic. About 1,518 tubewells were completely out of order. The DPHE also detected 154 arsenic patients there. The DPHE staffers marked red the arsenic contaminated tube-wells so that none consumes water of the tube-wells. But as there was no alternative, people were found to drink arsenic-contaminated water from the red-marked tube-wells. Even people used to drink water of the Titas river and other ponds. As a result, more than 300 people were attacked with diarrhoea and other water-borne diseases, local people and hospital sources said. While this correspondent visited the spots, Abdul Kadir of Biddaya Kut Village told him that they were suffering from arsenic pollution for more than three years. But the authorities did not take step to mitigate their sufferings (Staff Reporter, The Daily Star, January 22, 2004). In Gopalganj Water of 13,465 tube-wells arsenic contaminated Arsenic has created panic in three upazilas of Gopalganj district. Arsenic has been detected in water of 13,465 out of 15,207 tube-wells in Muksudpur, Kasiani and Gopalganj Sadar upazilas, In Sadar upazila, 311 arsenic affected patients have been detected and at Chandradighalia village of Paikkandi union parishad (UP), 91 patients have been detected. As many as 3,38,990 members of 47,934 families in 211 villages were examined. Most of the tube-wells in the affected areas have been sealed off by marking red and with a warning signboard by the Department of Public Health Engineering Department (DPHE), Gopalganj. A survey was also conducted by an NGO, Gano Unnaya Prochesta (GUP) in 22 unions of Sadar upazila from April 1 to June 30, 2004 (Daily Star, July 11, 2004)

Arsenic Removal Filter from tube wells (Tubewell Sand Filter): A vertical column consisting of three chambers brick chips or iron chips, coarse sand, fine sand are the elements of Tubewell Sand Filter. This has been introduced by several NGOs and government orginisations. In Faridpur near Tulagram (left: picture) a TSF has been very recently constructed by NGO Forum. The villagers paid Tk.3000 and the total cost is about Tk. 50, 000/. We examined the water and found arsenic concentration 70 µg/l, in other words, it should be painted red.We saw that villagers were wasing brick chips, sands with pond water, in other words, contaminating with colio and other bacteria. We found several other filters (TSF) at Aliabad, Bakunda are abondoned.The NGO Forum maintains close collaboration with all relevant government agencies (DPHE, NIPSOM, LGED, etc.), Universities, UN bodies (UNICEF, World Bank, etc.), Donors, DPHE-DANIDA, BAMWSP, as well as other NGOs. The NGO Forum is playing a vital role in the Bangladesh Arsenic Mitigation Water Supply Project (BAMWSP) as a member of the steering committee as well as in project implementation including selection of Partner NGOs and CBOs for any area selected. What a misuse of money!

Tube Well Sand Filter (TSF) Financed by US AID, SIDA, Churches of Industrial countries etc, May 2004

This was a good intention of the donors to give arsenic free water to the rural pupulation, but all the wells show a high content of arsenic. The filter elements are directed to be washed and cleaned every fortnight. The villagers wash in pond water and thus adding biological contamination. If they drink pond water, it is free from arsenic but contains biological, pesticide contamination. Arun Shiel of Murahidoha, Faridpur said, We have paid Tk. 3000, now you say that this water is not good. what shall we so? May, 2004"

In principle coagulation and filtration process work only with trained operator by public water supply. US EPA (1999) comments that coagulation and filtration is not appropriate for most small systems - high cost, need for well trained operaton variability in process performence. The main drawbacks of this type of treatment are the poor As (III) removal and the problem of the disposal of the toxic sludge produced which can contain high concentration of arsenic.

Available technologies for arsenic treatment:

Method	Advantages	Disadvantages
Co-precipitation:	No monitoring of a break through is required. Relatively low cost simple chemicals. Low capital costs.	Serious short and long term problems with toxic sludge. Multiple chemicals requirement Operation requires training and discipline.
Alum coagulation	Durable powder chemicals normally available	Efficient pre-oxidation is a must
Iron coagulation	More efficient than alum on weigh basis	Medium removal of As (III)
Lime softening	Most common chemicals	Re-adjustment of pH is required.
Sorption techniques:	No daily sludge problem.	Requires monitoring of break through or filter use. Requires periodical regeneration or medium shift.
Activated alumina	Relatively well known and commercially available.	Re-adjustment of pH is required.
Iron coated sand	Expected to be cheap. No regeneration is required.	Yet to be standardized. Toxic solid waste.
Ion exchange resin	Well defined medium and hence capacity.	High cost medium. High tech operation & maintenance. Regeneration creates a sludge problem.
Membrane techniques:	Low space requirement. Capable of removal of other contaminants, if any.	High running costs. High investment costs. High tech operation and maintenance. Toxic wastewater. Re-adjustment water quality is required.
Reverse Osmosis		Membrane does not withstand oxidizing agents.

(Source, US EPA, 2000)

Multiple chemical requirement, operation requires a huge resource and technological training.

High investment, high running cost,a high technical operation and maintenance make it impossible to reach arsenic free water for the mass population.

Most disturbing object is that these people who are using the sand filter never warned by the NGOs that the same poisonous water is pouring through their wells via filter.

Is it possible to do same in the USA or Sweden?

Toxic Dug Well Rings

To our surprise we found almost every where NGOs or Government making dug rings use toxic oils (Maita Tel - Bengali) containing PCBs, Dioxin, PAH etc., because it is cheap thus contaminating drniking water with other hazardous substancees. For example about PCBs:

Dangers of exposure to PCBs?

PCBs are a group of synthetic organic chemicals that contain 209 possible individual chlorinated biphenyl compounds. These chemically related compounds called congeners vary in their physical and chemical properties and toxicity. Over exposure to PCB's can result in damage to the liver (as severe as liver cancer), gastrointestinal system, blood, skin (rash), endocrine system, immune system, nervous system, and the reproductive system.
PCBs are toxic and persistent. They have been shown to cause a variety of adverse health effects, such as cancer in animals, as well as a number of serious noncancer health effects inanimals (e.g., effects on the immune system, reproductive system, nervous system, and endocrine system). Studies in humans provide supportive evidence for potential carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic effects of PCBs.

The different health effects of PCBs may be interrelated, as alterations in one system may have significant implications for the other systems of the body. In some cases, chloracne may occur in humans exposed to PCBs. Severe cases of chloracne are painful and disfiguring, and may be persistent. It is very important to note that the composition of a PCB mixture changes following its release into the environment.

This criterion is based on whether and how the oil is used. Oils used as lubricants, hydraulic fluids, heat transfer fluids, buoyants, and for other similar purposes are considered used oil. To meet EPA's definition, used oil must be contaminated with either physical or chemical impurities as a result of being used. This includes residues and contaminants generated from handling, storing, and processing used oil. Physical contaminants may include metal shavings, sawdust, or dirt. Chemical contaminants could include solvents, halogenated volatile organics (i.e., halogens), or saltwater. Used oil and substances containing or covered with used oil are regulated according to the Used Oil Management Standards if they meet certain conditions. Otherwise, they are subject to being managed according to other regulations [40 CFR 279.10(b)].

Rainwater harvesting

Research in Bangladesh by the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, (ICDDR) confirms that rainwater can be a safe drinking water source. The relative purity of rainwater makes it an attractive option in areas with uniformly high arsenic levels in other water sources. A rainwater harvesting unit was constructed by SIDA/BRDB at Muraidoha, Faridpur but to our surprise we found that the same house has a tubewell that contain arsenic far below Bangladesh's standard!

Deep Tube Well

Do we need high cost Deep Tube Well?

The other alternative for groundwater supply is the development of deep tubewells. The British Geological Survey (1998) found only two out of 280 tubewells below 200 m in Bangladesh to be contaminated with high levels of arsenic (WHO, 2000).

Note: Most of the deep tube wells are in the Coastal Areas of Bangladesh, where shallow aquifers are separated by thick layers of clay sediments. But Holocene sedimentary stratigraphy of rest of Bangladesh is completely dfferent.

Use of deep tubewell has been suggested as a safe option in the face of arsenic contamination of groundwater in the country. The suggestion was made in a preliminary report after a study in Jhenidah, Chuadanga and Jessore districts, conducted jointly by local and foreign experts. The report was presented at a seminar at Sonargaon hotel in the city yesterday. The Tk 25 crore study was undertaken by the Department of Public Health and Engineering (DPHE) with financial assistance from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

"We are certain about safety of groundwater there although low level of arsenic was found in some of the wells we tested. However, we are not recommending sinking of deep tubewells in other affected areas without proper tests," one of the Japanese experts said while talking to The Daily Star.

He said, "We suggest no more sinking of shallow tubewell where groundwater in shallow aquifer is already affected. In such cases, exploring deeper aquifers would be a wise decision

The experts also prepared a 'master plan' in conformity with the National Policy for Safe Water Supply and Sanitation, 1998. The master plan has been prepared mainly to supply arsenic-free water in affected areas in the western part of the country by developing groundwater in deep aquifers.

The master plan suggests short-term, mid-term and long-term measures to supply safe water in rural and urban areas. Facilities in rural areas will include sinking of deep tubewells with elevated tanks, pipeline and communal faucet; deep wells with hand pumps; pond-sand filter and rainwater harvesting system.

Although in a recent report by Disaster Forum describes:
Representative of WHO, Mr. Mofazzal Haque informed the group that deep tubewells of Chuadanga and Meherpur were also affected. So not only shallow tubewells but deep tubewells were also affected. The group felt that the deep tubewells should also be tested as part of the programme.

Low cost shallow well (green) with arsenic free sweet water close to the DPHE constructed deep tube well (red) - saline and iron rich water at Noakhali- May 2004.	Left deep tube well 12,00 feet by Swedish Aid through BRDB water contains 80 Microgram arsenic and saline, Right a Shallow arsenic free well drilled at Tambulkhana, Faridpur, May 2004 by this project.

The British Medical Journal(BMJ 2001;322:626-627 ( 17 March, 2001) in an editorial describes:
The Bangladesh arsenic mitigation water supply programme was set up in 1998 with a loan of $44m (£30m) from the World Bank in an attempt to assess the scale of the problem and implement some solutions (http://www.bamwsp.org/). However, little practical action has been taken, and the people of Bangladesh are still waiting for their safe drinking water. Potential long term solutions include digging deeper tubewells ..
In public health terms the risk of dying from diarrhoeal illnesses is greater than that of dying from arsenic poisoning. But the people drinking the water should be deciding, not the donor agencies. In the face of all this uncertainty, one thing is beyond doubt. If a developed country was cursed with the geology of Bangladesh it would have mechanisms in place to deal with it and its people would not be drinking poisoned water. Water problems tend to disappear when a country becomes rich.
Rhona MacDonald, editorial registrar

Our project (2004) shows that deep tube wells is not the solution. People rejects deep tube wells water as it taste saline or high in iron or smells cow dung (cow dung is used in Bangladesh for deep drilling!). Deltaic sediments of Bangladesh is geologically unique in the world, within contaminated aquifers, there are still undicovered uncontaminated aquifer.

But if, foreign consultants, depending NGOs or government's water experts draw master plan, there will be no solution to arsenic probleme in Bangladesh

Rich Don't Allow Poor to Collect Water

We were very surprised and shocked to see that an arsenic free water well was protected by white walls (picture) so that the poor can not take any water from here (Kuzurdia, Fariddpur). Immediate to this house we made a water well so that every one can carry safe water. We have made several water wells near the road side. Under Government or NGOs project one has to pay 2000-5000 Taka, whereas the poor can not pay. We have seen in Noakhali distric, where many arsenic free deep wells are constructed inside the house. This is regarded as a private property. But a deep tube well costs about 60, 000 - 100, 000 Taka of tax payers money.

The simplest and most immediately achievable option is the sharing of tubewells that are currently low or free from arsenic. However, class and caste relationships, such as rich-poor or landlord-tenant farmer, impede sharing of water between families of different socioeconomic backgrounds. The use of financial incentives to enhance tubewell sharing may overcome some problems, however, social constraints may prove so strong that the efficacy of purely financial incentives is far from guaranteed.

This village supposed to be one of the arsenic free villages under the project of donors, ngos and government plan. To combat the arsenic contamination across the country Bangladesh authorities are studying the feasibility of keeping one pond in each of the country´s 68,000 villages reserved as a source of drinking water, with purification facilities. This was announced at the end of February (1998) by Minister Zillur Rahman, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development at a national conference on coordinated action for arsenic mitigation in Dhaka (April, 1999)). Now we see abondoned pond sand filer (PSF). Who is to blame?

We do not see any project report on mitigation activities by the Government and NGOs but find: UNICEF has allocated 2 million dollars to DPHE for installation of some 5,500 water points such as deep tube wells, rain water collection jars and pond sand filters for families affected by arsenic contamination . The UNDP programme, implemented under the Ministry of Health as an immediate mitigation measure in 200 villages in Phase I, is now being upscaled to another 400 villages in Phase II. It consists of five components - field water quality testing to determine the level of arsenic contamination, identification and marking of tubewells to indicate the degree of contamination, identification of patients and providing information, medical advice and medicine, collection of data on location of affected tubewells and other relevant information, and field testing of new technologies for separation of arsenic from tubewell water. The World Bank is providing US $ 32m as a first tranche to the national programme for both short and long term mitigation measures. The Bank supported programme will, as a first priority, undertake comprehensive national screening of all the 4 million tubewells in Bangladesh. As part of the programme, community awareness will be raised and capacity enhanced not only for decision making but also for maintenance of any alternative sources of water supply or technology that is provided through the programme. For ensuring the sustainability of safe water supply at the community level, the programme will also build linkages with the local government, both at the administrative and representative levels, in order to ensure community empowerment and flow of funds Abstract from:(National Conference on Coordinated Action for Arsenic Mitigation, February 27-28, 1999, Statement by David E. Lockwood, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh

Govt, World Bank signs deal for $40m grant today (June 30, 2004)

The government and the World Bank sign an agreement today for a $40-million grant for providing safe piped drinking water in arsenic-prone rural areas. Economic Relations Division Secretary Mirza Tasadduk Hossain Beg and acting World Bank country director David Hubert will sign the agreement. The grant will be used for the $55-million Bangladesh Water Supply Programme Project to supply piped water to around 300 villages and point source water supply to around 200 villages. The government, the private sector and community contributors will provide $15 million - the rest of the fund.

The Department of Primary Health Engineering will be the implementing agency of the five-year project, which will involve local non-government and community-based organisations. The department has so far screened tube-wells of 147 upazilas, under the Bangladesh Arsenic Mitigation and Water Supply Project which started in 1998, and found 8.1 lakh tube-wells contaminated by arsenic. Officials of the World Bank told New Age on Tuesday that around 500 villages, which are severely affected by arsenic contamination, would be brought under the piped and point source water supply system. Around 300 villages with a minimum of 300 households each will be brought under the piped water supply system and around 200 villages, which have low density of households, will be brought under the point source water supply system, said Khawaza Minnat Ullah, senior water supply and sanitation specialist of the World Bank.

He said that around 40 to 50 small-scale schemes or pilot demonstration projects of safe drinking water supply have been taken up in the country over the past few years by different authorities including the Rural Development Board and the public health engineering department. He said the bank-funded project would be a full-fledged pilot project. During a field visit to a pilot demonstration project of supplying piped water at Pakundia village in Sonargaon upazila on Tuesday, it was found that 132 houses, out of 450, have taken water connection. As most of the hand-operated tube-wells of the area, one of the arsenic contaminated places of Narayanganj district, are contaminated by arsenic, BRAC in collaboration with the DPHE, UNICEF and RDA, implemented the project in 2001. WB provided the technical assistance.

Villagers to pay 20 per cent of the project cost
The villagers who had taken the water connections paid 20 per cent of the project cost of around Tk 30 lakh in the form of a fee of Tk 2,500 for each connection. Each household has to pay Tk 60 for unlimited use of water in a month to a committee formed by the villagers. Piped water is being supplied by extracting water through a deep aquifer tube-well which extracts arsenic free water from around 800 feet below the surface.

However, more than half of the villagers are yet to take water connections as they "were unable to pay Tk 2,500 as connection fee". A bank official said in the upcoming project, water connections might be provided by the NGOs and later they would adjust the amount with the water bills.

What may we know of the secret sorrow of the poor? The poor in the developing world pay on average 12 times more for water than people connected to municipal systems, according to an ongoing study by the World Commission on Water for the 21st Century. While the rich benefit from subsidized treated piped water, water vendors charge the poor up to 100 times more for water of doubtful quality in some cities such as Port-au-Prince, Haiti and Nouakchot, Mauritania. We know from econometric analysis, that the poorest suffer the most from arsenicosis in Bangladesh (WHO, 2000). Most arsenic patient of Bangladesh is still drinking arsenic contaminated water and can hardly afford any medical treatment or piped water. The poorest can barely afford to offer money or time for a village committee or maintenance of installations. Therefore, local communities allow each of the families that are making use of the water resource to contribute an amount they can afford. Sometimes, contribution from 30 families for a deep tubewell of Tk. 5000 varies between Tk. 0 and Tk. 800 or piped water. Relatively well-off people who can afford to contribute a large amount of money or to become a member of a village committee, are able to derive more privileges from their increased status. Despite the quite impressive network of DPHE thana, district and division offices, these departments are hopelessly subject to inefficiency, bureaucracy, corruption, lack of capacity, lack of capabilities, lack of professionals etc. The WB functions best in countries like ours because we have no performance audits, no accountability, extreme crony corruption and, to be honest, inadequate mental faculties to challenge them. Those who have chase them for assignments. And so everyone has a stake in the World Bank.. What became obvious was the extreme contempt in which the official technocrats and bureaucrats held ordinary people. The entire idea of development in Bangladesh is based on the GO-NGO co-operation model and the people have little role to play in this. NGOs are generically fund seekers and now provider of employment. Most of them have almost no reality beyond this. And this generally grovelling bunch conveniently represents the public face in the eyes of the donors who ultimately decide policies. Not because they want to but because they have to. The ability of the national counterparts is so low that they would not be able to formulate a policy without donor support. They are unable to disagree either because that might mean fund cuts. So it all ends up in the same basket (Afsan Chowdhury, 2002).

The arsenic hazard in Bangladesh villages now appeared as a ‘real disaster’, affecting thousands physically, physiologically, mentally and economically; it is intensifying malnutrition, poverty and destitution among the already poor villagers. The future of the Bangladesh villages are jeopard

This was a very hot and humid day as other days in July. we were watching the daily workers at a remote village in Bakunda, Faridpur, while waiting for our drilling equipment. The workers most of the time are sitting under a shadow of a tree. The care taker who looks after the work said, "you can see they don't work properly. But I can't say anything because it is contract job (salary according to the amount of soil they dig)." I just began to talk with worker. They looked very tired and sick. When I saw their palm and feet found signs of very advanced arsenic poisoning. Karim said, "I am very tired. We live in Nagarkandi and most of the people in our village have the same symtom."

"Sir, is it not possible to come to our village, and give us arsenic free water."

The village was far away from our project area. We did not have the resource. our project proposal have been rejected by the Ministry of Local Government and resource Development, in charge of arsenic mitigation.

In village Bazar, tea shops where we go, have to face the same question.

The lonely farmer plays the flute and
Black night mixes with black pain,
From the time to time the sand bank shivers
And sand blows.
The sand bank sleeps in pain
To the sound of flute.

It is a pain that make me stun and do not have words to narrate.

Thousands of villages still drinking poisonous water. It was not their fault. But elites of North and South agrees to be "natural" poisoning!!!

Source of Arsening Poisoning Back to Content

2006

Countless editorials and reports have been published on arsenic contamination but we all know that as far as concrete results are concerned, our achievements have not been overwhelming. In fact, a recent report bares all the facts before us and we know that in the last three years 36 persons have died, 38,500 are affected and about 7 crore people face a direct threat. So far, around 50 lakh tube-wells have been checked and of them, 14 lakh, a staggering number, have been identified to contain arsenic.

Though in other countries 0.01 milligram of arsenic in one litre of water is considered acceptable, in Bangladesh, that limit is 0.05 milligram. Unfortunately, in many upazilas the level is way too high and despite the presence of the seven-year arsenic mitigation programme that started in 1998 with a budget of Tk178 crore, progress in this project has been frightfully torpid. Funded predominantly by the World Bank, this programme has had some success in creating public awareness in 190 upazilas along with training 2330 doctors and 12 thousand health workers but till today millions are still faced with the prospect of arsenic contamination due to lack of proper knowledge and viable options. Interestingly, arsenic contamination and the layers of subterranean water are related issues because research has shown water from the top level to be contaminated. But, in the capital we mainly use water from deeper levels and thus the contamination level is almost non-existent. It would be a prudent move to use water from deeper levels for personal use and water from the upper levels for irrigation purposes.

Acknowledging the unmitigated importance of awareness we feel that the campaign to raise awareness level, relevant bodies should go for aggressive publicity. Yes, we have had awareness programmes but they have not been as intense as they should have been. Already, arsenic contamination has taken a deadly form in 9 thousand villages with 80 to 100 per cent contamination and if the present move aimed at mitigation is not geared up then arsenic will continue to kill and deform.

There have been a lot of seminars but we feel that more should be done at the field level. At the same time, there must be workshops in schools and colleges in the rural areas focusing on the benefits of fresh water. Sadly, many people in the cities do not realise the importance of fresh water and in the rural areas the picture is more hopeless.

In the end, success rate can be accelerated if the government takes a two-year crash programme and is determined to reduce arsenic contamination within a stipulated time. We believe that time has come for drastic moves because a lethargic treatment will only act as a catalyst for the social malaise to develop. Source: New Age, May 19, 2006

Eliminating the threat from arsenic in the water supply

World Challage 2006 - BBC World, Newsweek

In the Indian caste system, a Dalit, often called an untouchable, is a person who does not have any varnas. They are also known as outcastes. Included are leather-workers (called chamar), poor farmers and landless laborers, scavengers (called bhangi or chura), street handicrafters, folk artists, clothes washers dhobi etc

The Dalit people of India have been the most widely oppressed caste for more than three thousand years. Indian Dalits comprise nearly 1/4 of the total population, a massive 250 million men, women, and children. Dalits are considered the "outcasts" of Indian society - the "untouchables", those the Hindu scriptures call the "unborn" - translated: it would be better if they had never been born.

Dalits are denied access to public wells, public parks, basic medical services, and education. Many restaurants even use drinking glasses reserved only for Dalits. The ruling caste tells them they are Hindu, yet they are denied access to the temples, cannot become temple priests, and are even prohibited from reading the Hindu scriptures. Seventy percent of Dalits live below the poverty line. Only 10% of Dalit women can read and write, and are often sold into bonded prostitution.

The caste system is an integral part of Indian society dating back to the time of the Aryan invaders to India. The Hindu religion sanctioned the caste system. Caste is considered worse than racism by the Dalits. Dalits across the nation, however, have experienced an awakening and are now demanding equal human rights and dignity. They believe rejecting the Hindu caste system and turning to an ideology of spiritual freedom and acceptance, and getting an education are the keys to finding liberation. On November 4, 2001, the Dalit community gathered in New Delhi to break free from the Hindu caste system. On that day, Indian Christian leaders stood in solidarity with the Dalits in their quest of liberation. This has led to the formation of this international network committed to helping the oppressed Dalits of India.

The contamination of the water supply in parts of Bangladesh and northern India with large quantities of arsenic has been described as the worst case of mass poisoning in recorded history. Long-term exposure to even small quantities of the poison can result in skin lesions, localised gangrene and eventually cancers of the skin, lungs, bladder and kidneys. Located in Khulna, Bangladesh, NGO Dalit is fighting the scourge of arsenic contamination by locating and tapping rare pure water sources, installing filtration systems and researching herbal remedies for arsenic-related diseases. The project also includes an educational element aimed at acquainting people with the dangers of arsenic poisoning – and how to avoid them. The NGO is named after the Hindu Dalit people who are discriminated against in Bangladeshi society and have suffered disproportionately from arsenic poisoning.

Inadequate progress in addressing the arsenic problem

The sixth International Conference on ‘Safe Water and Safe Food Options in Arsenic Mitigation: Lesson Learnt’ in the capital on Wednesday adopted a 10-point declaration, expressing concern that the arsenic contamination, which causes deadly diseases, are yet to be taken with adequate seriousness by the governments concerned. The two-day conference began at the Dhaka Community Hospital conference room on Wednesday morning. It was jointly organised by the School of Environmental Studies of Jadabpur University of India and Dhaka Community Hospital where experts from USA, Australia, India, Singapore and the host Bangladesh took part.

On the opening day of the conference several papers on water options and safe water use, arsenic contamination and its impact on food chain, soil and environment and arsenic poisoning and health issues were presented in four sessions. Speakers said the problem of arsenic contamination went beyond that of drinking water and its direct effect was found in the food chain, soil and environment.

They also recommended tapping into indigenous knowledge and resources available to use various water sources and ensure the safety of such water bodies. The conference highlighted issues like arsenic in food chain, alternative water harvesting, management of arsenicosis and media role increase people’s awareness about the effects of arsenic poisoning. Professors Mahmudur Rahman, of Dhaka Community Hospital , Richard Wilson and David Christiani of Harvard University, Ravi Naidu of South Australia University, Willard Chappell of the Ubiversity of Colorado, Dipankar Chakravarty of Jadavpur University, Alan Smith of Barkely University, Meera M Hira Smith of University of California, Swapan Adnan of National University of Singapore, Firoz Ahmed of BUET, Ainun Nishat of IUNC, Emamul Huq of Dhaka University, SKM Abdullah of DCH, Hossain Zillur Rahman of PPRC, Guy Howard of APSU took part in different sessions. Among others, editor of the Daily Star, Mahfuz Anam, acting editor of New Age, Nurul Kabir and editor of the Independent, Mahbubul Alam, also spoke.

In the session on the role of media in implementing sustainable water management policy the senior journalists said news media should play a vital role to create pressure on the government to address the problem on priority basis raise mass awareness. Professor Quazi Qumruzzaman of the Dhaka Community Hospital chaired the session.

Mahfuz Anam criticised all concerned for inadequate progress in addressing the arsenic problem and urged the organisers to provide the media with specific information about the present state of arsenic contamination across the country. The other demands of the conference included media campaign to make people aware of arsenic contamination, supply of safe drinking water, monitoring installation of all tube wells to ensure proper depth, a call for an independent third party evaluation of all the deep tube wells across the country and measures for maximum use of rainwater (New Age, January 5, 2006).

2007- Arsenic: the looming catastrophe

After Spending Millions of Dollar from the World Bank by the Government - Still Arsenic contamination poses serious health hazards in Magura

Serious arsenic contamination in most of the tube-wells in 20 villages under Shalikha upazila is posing a serious health hazard to the locals. Of them, arsenic contamination in three villages are, Seeazzati, Vulbaria and Hathazari has taken a serious turn. Members of above 200 families were affected by arsenic disease in these villages seriously.

In Sewazati village 21 arsenic patients were identified as Mamota (23), Chandricka Rani (26), Tonmoy Biswas (2), Anol Biswas (32), Nayan Chandra (85), Amit Biswas (45), Moyan Biswas (32), Asit Biswaas (20(, Popy Halder (12), Poly (14), Anik Biswas (5), Kamalendu Biswas (20), Kingsol Rani (2), Apurbo (16), Joya (16), Supadi (48), Endu Rani (35), Nimoy (44), Mihir (19) Tripti (30) and Bimol Biswas (40). Besides this, above 100 persons were seriously attacked by arsenic in the village. In Vulbaria and Hazrahati village 28 persons were detected as arsenic patient.

According to Upazila Health Complex and Public Health sources, this arsenic contamination was mainly spread by tube-wells.

According to the sources, above 3000 tube-wells out of total 12,500 in seven unions of the upaizla have water with dangerous level of arsenic.

They added that, this problem has taken serious turn due to flood situation also. Besides, they found excessive level of arsenic in most of the tube-wells in 17 others villages. The villages are : Dhapuapara, Tuknapara, Hutlaksmipur, Laksmipur, Dhaneswargati, Amian Kola, Singra, Chandra, Chatkabaria, Sharsuna, Gabindapur, Sabek Khato, Gajdubba, Shatokhali, Baraichara and Kotbag.

In these villages 160 persons have been detected as arsenic patient and took necessary treatment by local health centres. The Department informed, these arsenic contaminated tube-wells have been already red marked and the locals were requested not to drink water of these tube-wells. Moreover, the problems have been notified to the concerned higher authorities more than once to take step immediately, the sources, added (Source: The New Nation, September 18, 2007).

Magura* sub-division was established in 1945 and was turned into a district in 1984. The district consists of 4 upazilas, 1 municipality, 18 wards, 61 mahallas, 36 union parishads, 537 mouzas, and 700 villages. The upazilas are magura sadar, mohammadpur, salikha and sreepur; the municipality is Magura Sadar. Indigo uprising of 1859-60, the remnants of Neelkuthi at Hajrapur, Boroi, Amtail Nahati are marks of extensive indigo cultivation. Extinct or nearly extinct crops Indigo, barley, china and corn.

Arsenic: the looming catastrophe

The full dimension of the problem of arsenic in groundwater is emerging with disturbing portents of what can eventually prove to be a health and environmental catastrophe. Arsenic contamination in drinking water was suddenly detected in the 1980s when, ironically, the country was permitting itself the woolly self-satisfaction that the problem of contaminated drinking water in rural areas was solved by universalising the use of tube-wells. Arsenic contamination was reported in tube-well water of some western districts of the country, and with time it was becoming clear that arsenic was present in the groundwater of vast swaths of the country.

Although the alarm bell had been ringing the response was inadequate. Arsenic acts slowly and now after twenty years reports of death from arsenicosis are piling up. In Pabna alone 15 people are said to have died from arsenic-related causes over a period of seven years. According to government sources quoted in newspaper reports, 50,000 people are suffering from arsenicosis in the country. Surveys have revealed that 30 million people of the country are at risk. According to the World Health Organisation standard, the level of arsenic in drinking water should not be in excess of .01 mg per litre.

Arsenic is a global problem affecting 140 million people in 70 countries, as reported in New Age on Friday. Precious time was lost and the twenty years have seen little activity in protecting people in the affected areas. All that the public health engineering people and the NGOs do is to red-mark the dangerous tube-wells but hardly is any arrangement made for supplying safe water. The red mark is washed away with time and life in the affected villages continues as before and more people contract arsenicosis. Many people in villages are aware of the dangers but continue to drink water from the affected well as they cannot help it. This is an international menace and international cooperation should be sought. There does not appear to be a single remedy universally applicable and some local mitigating methods have to be tried. There has to be greater reliance on surface water, duly treated, in areas where it is available. In particularly vulnerable areas like those in Kushtia and Pabna deep tube-wells may be sunk. But deep tube-well should be sunk or ‘ring well’ dug in or around community facilities and not on private lands, in which case rivalry and tension will be inevitable. And this is already happening.

A variety of filters have been devised to rid drinking water of arsenic. The merits of these devices should be closely examined and the right one promoted. So far the commitment is lacking. The menace should be controlled before it overwhelms the health sector (New Age, September 02, 2007 ).

Back to Content

2007

US National Academy of Engineering announces $1m prize Bangladesh, Friday, February 2, 2007 Sono Filter of Bangladesh has won the one million dollar prize of the US-based National Academy of Engineering (NAE) for inventing a technology to remove arsenic from contaminated water. Abul Hussam, associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry at George Mason University, Virginia, USA, and Dr AKM Munir, a physician from Kushtia, innovated the technology. NEA President Wm A Wulf officially declared Sono Filter as the winner of "The Grainger Challenge Prize for Sustainability" at Washington yesterday. The prize-giving ceremony will take place on February 20 at the NAE Complex Washington. Hussam and Munir started experimenting on the Sono Filter around seven years back and Kushtia-based NGO Manab Shakti Unnayan Kendro has been distributing the filters in arsenic affected areas at the upazila level since 2004. The NAE introduced the one million dollar award in January 2005 for innovating a sustainable, cost-effective and socially accepted technology as the technologies available for removing arsenic from contaminated water were not beyond questions. The goal of the Grainger Challenge Prize is to encourage the innovation of household or community-scale water treatment system to remove arsenic from the contaminated groundwater. The system must have a low life-cycle cost and must be robust, reliable, easily maintainable, socially acceptable, and affordable, said a press release. As a sustainable technology, the system must also be within the manufacturing capabilities of a developing country and must not degrade other water quality characteristics and to promote green design philosophies. The Sono Filter was one of the 15 technologies out of more than 100 entries selected to compete in the final/testing stage of the challenge which began in early July 2006. The total testing and technology evaluation procedure was conducted by United States Environmental Protection Agencies (US-EPA) testing and evaluation facilities at Cincinnati, Ohio and reviewed by a panel of 10-member reviewers committee.

Arsenic Sludge Disposal-Another Man-made Disaster in Bangladesh? by Meer Husain, USA

The pursuit of science is to seek unbiased knowledge of the nature and apply the same for the wellbeing of humanity. In doing so we must remember our responsibility to maintain the integrity of the ecosystem and sustainability of the well being for the posterity to come. In keeping with this principle it is necessary to evaluate each and all invention and innovations.

The arsenic removal filtration systems including your SONO filter in Bangladesh, in our opinion, are not offering a sustainable solution to the arsenic disaster in Bangladesh. On the contrary it is headed to widen the disaster to a larger population. It should not be difficult to understand if we look at the origin of the arsenic problem and potential hazards of filter wastes. Further, in this communication, we would like point out your basic misunderstanding of TCLP and the issue of landfill in the context of Bangladesh environment. It is our belief that your misinterpretation and misunderstanding has led you to accept indiscriminate dumping of arsenic-laden wastes. Construction of leak proof sanitary landfill in Bangladesh climate is neither economical nor technically operable. Additionally, we bring to our readers your rhetoric that has been published in different news media is misleading public and the scientific community. Your mistaken claims violate award criteria. These naturally raises question regarding ethical standard that you are following in search of scientific truth. We invite you to refute these as soon as possible.

The Root Cause of arsenic release:

At the surface level, the removal of arsenic from arsenic-contaminated groundwater by filters and water treatment plants is creating toxic sludge/concentrated toxic wastes. The indiscriminate disposal of used filter elements and arsenic sludge/arsenic solid wastes on the ground, rivers, ponds and low-lying areas are polluting/contaminating air, soil and sediment, surface and groundwater resources, aquatic organisms, and agricultural products. In other words, this toxic sludge/concentrated toxic waste reaches out every nook and corner of the environment of Bangladesh. In the context of Bangladesh's geology, hydrology, hydro geology, geochemistry, and socio-economic conditions, arsenic sludge management is very expensive and very difficult.

Do you really understand what kind of poisonous environment is going to have in Bangladesh and West Bengal of India due to indiscriminate disposal of arsenic sludge/solid wastes from thousands of SONO and other arsenic removal filters?

Misinterpretation of TCLP and Landfill in the Context of Bangladesh Environment:
We find your arsenic sludge disposal method is similar to other currently being practiced in Bangladesh. We think you have not completely understood the interpretation and practical use of the term TCLP because of lacking institutional training and work experience in dealing with toxic and hazardous material. Your arsenic disposal method is based on pseudo scientific theory which is threatening the entire humanity of the Bengal delta. You can find below what went wrong with your understanding of the entire method.

On May 17, 2007 we provided you and others with some information about TCLP. You have been misinterpreting your TCLP data either for promoting your SONO filters as the best filter or you are not at all aware of the interpretation and usage of the term properly.

We would like to inform you and others that if the TCLP test reveals the sludge sample to be below regulatory limit (USEPA for arsenic is less than 5 mg/l), then the sludge/solid waste is considered to be non-hazardous. In that case you have to dispose the sludge in a landfill or any other secured locations.

The information that we provided (Understanding TCLP) clearly states that "A TCLP analysis of a waste sample tells a generator whether or not the waste is capable of releasing up to 8 toxic metals and 32 toxic organics in an amount that exceeds the EPA regulatory limits when the waste is subjected to the kinds of chemicals and physicals conditions encountered in a landfill". This test is designed to simulate leaching that takes place in a sanitary landfill only. What this means is that when you conduct TCLP test on your arsenic sludge/arsenic wastes and the test meets the EPA regulatory limits, then you have to dispose the wastes in a sanitary landfill or in other similar conditions. If you do not dispose your arsenic concentrated sludge and used filter elements in a sanitary landfill, then the dumping of your sludge on the ground, rivers, ponds, and low lying areas would be considered illegal dumping of toxic arsenic wastes. You are dumping arsenic sludge in a different chemical and physical environment than a sanitary landfill from which arsenic will contaminate air, water, soil/sediments etc. You have wrongly equated the "open field" of Bangladesh with the US EPA-recommended sanitary "landfill" in USA, probably in the interest of your filter use. You have clearly misunderstood the term used for the dumping place. Bangladesh does not have sanitary landfills. With this misconception of the term, you have been providing the people of Bangladesh and scientific community around the world with wrong information about your SONO filter. Do you realize how much harm you have been promoting for the environment of this impoverished nation in the name providing arsenic-free potable water?

Arsenic Sono filter

The winner of a prestigious engineering prize is working hard to ensure that needy communities around the world benefit from his invention, which removes arsenic and other impurities from water drawn from tubewells. Abul Hussam, a chemistry professor at George Mason University in Virginia, has devoted most of the $1 million he was awarded as winner of the 2007 Grainger Challenge Prize to distributing his inexpensive water filtration system to the poor in countries such as his native Bangladesh, where between 77 million and 95 million people are drinking water contaminated with arsenic. The remainder of the prize money was donated to the university or set aside for more research.

Arsenic contamination is a serious problem in tubewells in Bangladesh, eastern India, Nepal and several other countries. Arsenic is poisonous and, even in low concentrations, can cause skin ailments, nerve damage, fatal cancers, organ failure and the loss of arms and legs, as well as death. Hussam first became involved professionally in working on the arsenic problem when his brother, a physician in Kushtia, Bangladesh, asked him to develop a technique for precise arsenic measurement. As part of his research at George Mason University, Hussam developed an electrochemical analyzer and utilized it to develop a measurement protocol. "The first sample we measured was our home tubewell and we found 160-190 parts per billion [ppb] -- 50 ppb is the limit -- arsenic. We then decided to develop a water filter," he said. Hussam found that the entire neighbourhood in which he grew up and 60 percent of Kushtia's 400,000 residents were drinking arsenic-contaminated water. While he and his siblings did not develop symptoms of arsenic poisoning, others in his community did.

The Grainger Challenge Prize was created by the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) with support from the Grainger Foundation. NAE challenged the US engineering community to develop a water treatment system that would significantly lower the arsenic content in groundwater from tubewells in developing countries. The challenge stipulated that the winning system be low-cost, technically robust, reliable and maintainable; be socially acceptable and affordable; be manufacturable and serviceable in a developing country; and not degrade other water quality characteristics or create a toxic waste disposal hazard.

Hussam's Sono filter, as he calls it, was one of 75 entries. It was tested in a laboratory of the US Environmental Protection Agency and analysed by each of the 10 members of the prize selection committee, according to the committee's chairman, professor Charles O'Melia of Johns Hopkins University in Maryland, who called Hussam's invention "innovative." The Sono filter works without electricity, using three stacked buckets. The top bucket is filled with coarse river sand and a composite iron matrix, which serves as the active arsenic removal component. The middle bucket contains coarse river sand and wood charcoal to remove organic impurities. The bottom bucket contains fine river sand and brick chips to remove fine particles and stabilize water flow. The Sono filter is manufactured in Bangladesh using local raw materials at a cost of $35-$40. It produces 20 liters of clean water per hour, requires little maintenance, and lasts a minimum of five years. It is also "green," in the sense that it does not produce any hazardous waste. (Source:Daily Star, july 12, 2007, USINFO, Washington)

Any EPA (USA) professional would approve such improper arsenic waste disposal method in Bangladesh . We would like to inform everyone that the SONO and other arsenic removal filters and indiscriminate disposal of arsenic wastes from these filters on the open ground, in underground, rivers, ponds, lakes, khal, bill, doba, khad and other low lying areas are creating graveyards for the current and future generations. The govt. of Bangladesh was misguided by the promoters of arsenic removal filters and some other scientists regarding the arsenic waste disposal method in Bangladesh and as a result they probably have accepted Dr. Hussam's improper disposal method. We do not think any EPA professional would approve such improper arsenic waste disposal method in Bangladesh and in other countries. The geological, hydrological, hydrogeological and hydro-metereological as well as socio-economic conditions are not suitable for the construction and maintaining a modern sanitary landfill for properly disposing arsenic sludges from the arsenic removal filters and treatment units. The over pumping of groundwater creates arsenic poisoning at the subsurface, and the removal and disposal of arsenic wastes causes numerous problems at the surface. Dr. Hussam has a great difficulty in understanding and using the term TCLP and TCLP test data and as a result he has been advocating that the Sono filter does not generate toxic waste. We will thoroughly examine Dr. Hussam's misinterpretation and misconception of TCLP test data. We will also examine his Sono filter's waste disposal method in Bangladesh. This is a very serious scientific issue and as a result his arsenic waste disposal method must be examined as soon as possible. We as experienced professionals in dealing with numerous contaminated projects are respectfully requesting the arsenic filter users not to dispose arsenic waste from Sono and other filters on the ground, in the rivers, lakes, ponds and other low lying areas as suggested by Dr. Hussam. Those users who have already disposed of arsenic sludge/wastes improperly, should collect the wastes and contain it in a secured location until permanent solutions are figured out. Those who have clean and good tubewell waters , should share the water with their neighbors. The arsenic removal by filters is not a good solution/process in the context of the geological, hydrological, hydrogeological, hydrometreological and socio-economic conditions of Bangladesh, West Bengal, Nepal as well as Vietnam (Meer Husain et al. Wichita, Kansas, USA, July 2007).

Economic Feasibility of SONO Filter:

SONO filter does generate concentrated toxic arsenic solid wastes. This filter is inexpensive, because you are not disposing the sludge properly ignoring US EPA's regulations. The proper disposal of arsenic concentrated sludge/wastes/residues is very expensive. If you properly collect and dispose the sludge/wastes/residues and add the cost of collection, shipping and handling etc. by a trained professional then the cost of using SONO filter will be extremely high. The use of a filter is questionable if you cannot properly manage the arsenic wastes? Are you not paving the way for another environmental disaster? In developed countries household type of arsenic removal filtration systems are not encouraged, because the collection, shipping and handling of sludge and proper disposal of sludge would be very expensive. Moreover, improper disposal will create more problems as stated above.

. In Kushtia these systems are now being produced at the rate of about 200 per week, at a cost of about $40 each

Dr. Hussam was moved by the plight of millions of Bangladeshis poisoned by tube-well water laced with arsenic -- leading to serious skin conditions, tumours, breathing difficulties, cancer, and ultimately to agonizing death -- and made it his quest to find a solution. After experimenting with hundreds of prototypes, he finally found the right combination of sand, charcoal, brick, and cast-iron to filter out almost any trace of arsenic from well water. In Kushtia these systems are now being produced at the rate of about 200 per week, at a cost of about $40 each. Over 30,000 filtration systems have already been distributed throughout the country.

40 US Dollars about Tk. 3000 and additional expenses later - can poor afford?

Danger of Sono Filter in Bangladesh
Why we need arsenic removing filters when there are other alternatives

I have been trying last 10 years to find a simple affordable solution. When I asked the clay potter of Malikpur to make a filter and distribute it to the market for Tk. 150 less than 2 US Dollar,

The NGOs and companies distribute the filter but due to clogging, no device for back-washing and colouring of water, growth of pathogen within the filter and expensive to replace etc. people refuses to use them: Available arsenic removal technologies are neither cost effective for the poor nor easily operable and maintainable. For example devices based on sorptive techniques need periodic regeneration by washing as flocculate particles clog the filter media slowing down flow rate which makes those devices cumbersome to use After some days there may arise filter media which demands extra replacement cost.

The risk of harmful bacteria can grow and increase substantially within the filter, if it is not properly maintained. Another process is coagulation-flocculation-co-precipitation with chemicals that may leave harmful residual elements in dissolved state in water. If coagulated with alum and potassium permanganate, there is a chance of having residual aluminium, potassium etc. in treated water that may have toxic effects on human nervous system. DPHE and DANIDA have introduced this system. In Faridpur they have distributed two-bucket system, but no body uses it.

There are several expensive filters are available in the market, but nobody knows their effectiveness.

None of the project has arsenic disposal programme.

Agencies have failed to give the people arsenic free water, environmental conscious education.

No water-purification device is capable, by itself, of removing all of the toxics from drinking water. Many unscrupulous companies and salespeople sell water-purification equipment to cash in on people's fears about polluted water to make a quick money.

The versatility of the sand filter is reflected in the numerous design variations that have been developed to address many different climatic and development conditions. Nearly a dozen variants of the basic sand filter design are currently in use, and engineers and practitioners continue to create more. A simple sand filter in a clay pot for 20-litre water has been introduced to remove arsenic and other contaminants. Sand filters are not simply physical filters, as in the percolating filter the sand particles develop a microbial flora whose metabolism contributes to the effectiveness of the process

We have innovated clay potters of Mallikpur to produce simple filter (like popular "Surma Filter") with candle (sand, clay) that stops colio bacteria and reduces arsenic concentration

.

But this project failed because the cannot afford 2 US dollar but how can you expect to spent 40 US dollars or more?

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