Mitigating arsenic contamination

In Bangladesh, the presence of arsenic in groundwater was first identified as a problem in the early 1990s. And in some places, the concentration levels exceeded 50 milligrammes per litre (mg/l) - way beyond the maximum level recommended by the World Health Organisation at 10 mg/l. More than three decades have passed since the country first detected arsenic in water, but neither the extent nor the intensity of the chemical element has reduced. The number of people who are affected by arsenic contamination is now 65,910, according to health and family welfare minister Zahid Maleque.
Therefore, arsenic contamination in groundwater is still a serious public health issue in Bangladesh. Millions of people in the country are at risk of exposure to arsenic-contaminated water. In rural areas of Bangladesh, where access to clean water is limited, and many people who rely on groundwater from shallow tube wells for drinking, cooking and other daily needs are highly at risk of arsenicosis. It is a disease caused by drinking arsenic-contaminated water. Meanwhile, a significant percentage of tube wells across the country have been found to contain excessive levels of arsenic. Long-term consumption of arsenic-contaminated water can lead to serious health problems, including skin lesions, cancer (of skin, lung, bladder and kidney), cardiovascular diseases and growth of children. Arsenic is a silent killer. However, millions of people in Bangladesh are still exposed to excessive levels of arsenic in their drinking water.
Despite efforts to mitigate the problem, challenges remain. Many people are still unaware of the risks associated with arsenic-contaminated water. And access to safe drinking water still remains a challenge, particularly in rural and remote areas of Bangladesh. Financial constraints, lack of infrastructure and public awareness are further exacerbating the problem. We know that the government and many other organisations have been working to address the issue by testing tube wells, raising awareness, and providing access to alternative sources of safe drinking water. But it is not enough. The government should do more to create public awareness about arsenic-contaminated water.

Nazifa Tasnim,
Student of Mass Communication and Journalism,
Jagannath University, Dhaka