Another name for water is life. Today, life-saving water is being poisoned by arsenic. Arsenic-contaminated water poses a serious threat to public health. People are slowly dying by drinking arsenic-contaminated water. Even 30 years ago, the country's shallow tube well water was pure, but gradually it was contaminated with arsenic. According to experts, there is no cure for arsenic poisoning.
★Introduction to Arsenic:
Arsenic is a toxic mineral element. It has no taste or smell. The chemical signal of arsenic is A_ {s. The atomic number is 33 and the atomic mass is 74.9. Arsenic is used to make semiconductor and alloys. If it is a basic substance, it does not dissolve in water and is not toxic. But when oxides are formed in the air, it becomes toxic.
★Sources of arsenic:
A small amount of arsenic can be found in the human body, soil and sea water. More arsenic is observed inside the soil than on the surface. There is a layer of rock beneath the soil that contains a compound called pyrites (Fes_ {2}). Arsenic exists in this compound. However, the most arsenic is found in the crust of the rock. Arsenic sulfide, oxides and arsenide are considered to be the main sources of arsenic. The main source of arsenic in our country is tube well water.
★Arsenic pollution:
Arsenic pollution in the country has reached alarming proportions. Arsenic is stored in a special layer under the soil and is pumped out through tube well water. The use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in agricultural production has increased dramatically over the past few decades, contaminating rivers, canals, beels and seawater with rainwater. This excessive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides is one of the causes of arsenic contamination. The special layer of soil that contains a substance called arsenopyrite is being mixed with water due to the extraction of excess water from the ground. The billions of liters of water we pump out for daily use, starting with agriculture, create a temporary vacuum in the groundwater that mixes arsenic with water mixed with air and oxygen. The cause is arsenic pollution.
★Disclosure of arsenic:
The first report of arsenic contamination was found in India in 1986. In some parts of the northern and southern parganas of India, the effects of arsenic on the human body are noticeable. It was later identified in different countries of the world.
★Symptoms of poisoning:
Symptoms of arsenic in the human body do not appear immediately. In many cases the symptoms appear after 6 months or more. Its toxicity is based on the amount of arsenic in the water. If you drink high amount of arsenic mixed water for a long time, its symptoms appear quickly. At first brown spots are seen on the body or palms of the hands. Later on, the fingers start to rot. Many times the reaction to arsenic causes the skin on the soles of the feet to thicken and the toes to bend. People with arsenic can get cancer. Redness is seen on the tongue, gums and lips of arsenic infected patients. Feels anorexia, loss of appetite and nausea. Gradually the heart becomes inactive. The amount of white and red blood cells in human blood decreases. Many times the blood vessels are damaged and there is severe damage to the fetus in pregnant women.
★Situation of arsenic contamination in Bangladesh:
Arsenic contamination in Bangladesh has made people think. The level of arsenic contamination has increased drastically. The presence of arsenic in the groundwater of Baragharia Union of Chapainawabganj district was first discovered in 1993 in our country. Then in 2001, the British Geological Survey tested tube well water in 61 districts of Bangladesh and found that 42% of tube well water contained levels of arsenic higher than the World Health Organization standard. According to a 2008-09 survey by the Bangladesh Department of Health, the number of arsenic infected patients was 19,165 in Chittagong Division, 8,315 in Khulna Division, 5,552 in Dhaka Division, 426 in Rajshahi and Rangpur Division, 6 in Barisal Division and 233 in Sylhet Division. The level of arsenic contamination in Bangladesh is higher than other neighboring countries. The most polluted districts in Bangladesh are Chandpur, Munshiganj, Gepalganj, Madaripur, Noakhali, Satkhira, Comilla and Bagerhat. The least polluted districts are Thakurgaon, Panchagarh, Natore and Nilphamari.
★Remedies and Steps:
Prevention is currently the most effective way to get rid of arsenic poisoning. Scientists have not yet discovered the treatment of arsenic-infected patients. The World Health Organization (WHO) report said that 0.05 mg of arsenic is tolerable for the human body, but the current report says that if the level is more than 0.01 mg for Bangladesh, it will be harmful to health. Therefore, more importance should be given to prevention and remedy. Studies have shown that arsenic levels are higher in shallow tube well water. Especially at a depth of 100-200 meters the presence of arsenic is low.
*The following steps can be taken to prevent and remedy arsenic contamination-
- Deep tube well water should be used for food and cooking.
- Rainwater does not contain arsenic. So rain water should be stored and used.
- Awareness of arsenic through radio, television and rural rituals.
- There is no arsenic in the water of ponds and canals. In this case, the water of ponds, canals or beels should be filtered and boiled for 20 minutes.
- Water should be provided by digging new ponds in arsenic affected villages.
- Establishment of arsenic treatment plant through government assistance.
- Tube well water should be tested from time to time through various government and non-government organizations.
- Purification of water through filters with buckets, pitchers and fly ash invented by SOES, CSIR.
- Arsenic-containing tube wells should be marked with red color and drinking water from them should be stopped.
- Arsenic is not a contagious or contagious disease, so do not panic, consult a doctor.
★Activities and research in Bangladesh:
At present, various organizations are working on arsenic in Bangladesh. In November 1997, representatives of the Dhaka Community Hospital visited several districts of the country and went to Calcutta for sample testing. Later in 1996, Rajshahi University conducted another survey in 15 districts. At that time, the Department of Geology and Mineralogy of the University collected water samples from 600 places in the border districts of West Bengal in Bangladesh and sent them to Jadavpur University. Finally, the School of Environment, University of Jadappur, India) NIPSOM (Bangladesh) jointly conducted experiments in 16 districts of Bangladesh to find the level of arsenic contamination. A 2010 report by the Bangladesh government and UNICEF on 54 districts found that 233 upazilas, 2,000 unions and 31,496 villages in 48 districts were affected by arsenic. According to the Asia Arsenic Network Jessore, the number of people infected with arsenic in Jessore district alone is about 3,000. In some villages of the upazilas of Jessore district, 80% of the people are affected.
★What we need to do:
Since arsenic is not a contagious disease, we need to consult a doctor without panic. We need to raise awareness among the people. Steps must be taken to stay free from arsenic at the personal, family, social and village levels. Public and private support needs to be increased.
Arsenic enters the human body through drinking water, so you need to drink arsenic-free pure water. Steps should be taken to eradicate this disease like tuberculosis, cholera, smallpox etc. People need to be aware and the government needs to make arrangements to provide safe clean water in arsenic affected areas.
Hello dear! Its been a while😊 Finally I find some time to read and comment in one of your articles, soo contamination of arsenic is common in your area you say? I hope youre doing good despite of that. Have a blast!