Amid the high concentration of arsenic found in some specific homestead plants or crops cultivated in the country's highly arsenic-affected areas, experts suggested undertaking of research and awareness-raising programmes on a large scale regarding the safety issues related to cultivation and consumption of such plants and crops.
The suggestion came at a symposium on 'Arsenic Calamity of Groundwater in Bangladesh: Contamination in Water, Soil and Plants' organised at a city hotel Monday.
Organised as part of a research programme conducted by a group of scientists from Japan and Bangladesh led by Dr Kingshuk Roy from Nihon University of Japan, the day-long symposium was attended by a number of representatives from different local and international organisations working on arsenic contamination.
Professor Dipankar Chakraborti from Jadavpur University in India delivered the keynote speech. Ambassador of Japan in Bangladesh Massayuki Inoue was also present on the occasion as the special guest.
Although, arsenic contamination of food crops is a secondary contamination and therefore shows a weak correlation to arsenic concentration in water; it cannot guarantee that all species of crops are safe enough for human consumption, the researchers observed.
Based on their studies carried out on plant species from different villages of Narayanganj district, the researchers showed that some plants like the roots of Water Spinach and Wax Gourd or the leaves of Giant Taro showed strong affinity to absorbing arsenic from soil-water.
Therefore, cultivation of plants and crops, which have a high predisposition to accumulate arsenic from surface soil and water or which have the capacity to dilute the concentration level or change it to less toxic forms, should be encouraged on a large scale in the highly affected areas, the symposium suggested.
The researchers also stressed incorporation of a thorough study on the safe and unsafe characteristics of all types of homestead crops into the government's present plan of investigation on the contamination level of groundwater.
The report also forbade use of tubewell water for irrigating homestead and agricultural crops due to its exposure to arsenic contamination and recommended use of surface water and rainwater, instead.
The symposium also stressed strict government monitoring on recycling of unused or non-functioning filters in the contaminated areas.
Experts now suggest research on arsenic-affected crops
FE Report | Published: August 13, 2008 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00
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