title: An eight-year study report on arsenic contamination in groundwater and health effects in Eruani village, Bangladesh and an approach for its mitigation.
abstract: Based on several surveys during 1997-2005 and visits of a medical team to Eruani village, Laksham upazila, Comilla district, Bangladesh, the arsenic contamination situation and consequent clinical manifestations of arsenicosis among the villagers, including dermatology, neuropathy, and obstetric outcome, are reported here. Analysis of biological samples from patients and non-patients showed high body burden of arsenic. Even after eight years of known exposure, village children were still drinking arsenic-contaminated water, and many of them had arsenical skin lesions. There were social problems due to the symptoms of arsenicosis. The last survey established that there is a lack of proper awareness among villagers about different aspects of arsenic toxicity. The viability of different options of safe water, such as dugwells, deep tubewells, rainwater harvesting, and surface water with watershed management in the village, was studied. Finally, based on 19 years of field experience, it was felt that, for any successful mitigation programme, emphasis should be given to creating awareness among villagers about the arsenic problem, role of arsenic-free water, better nutrition from local fruits and vegetables, and, above all, active participation of women along with others in the struggle against the arsenic menace.
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Studies, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Sad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ahamed
authors.forename: Mrinal Kumar
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Sengupta
authors.forename: Subhas Chandra
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Mukherjee
authors.forename: Shyamapada
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pati
authors.forename: Amitava
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mukherjeel
authors.forename: Mohammad Mahmudur
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Rahman
authors.forename: M Amir
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hossain
authors.forename: Bhaskar
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Das
authors.forename: Bishwajit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nayakl
authors.forename: Arup
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pal
authors.forename: Abu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zafar
authors.forename: Saiful
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kabir
authors.forename: Selina Akhter
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Banu
authors.forename: Salim
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morshed
authors.forename: Tanzima
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Islam
authors.forename: M Mahmuder
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Rahman
authors.forename: Quazi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Quamruzzaman
authors.forename: Dipankar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chakraborti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001151:Arsenic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D020261:Arsenic Poisoning / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001459:Bangladesh; D001822:Body Burden; D002648:Child; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012423:Rural Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D018508:Water Purification; D014881:Water Supply / Q000032:analysis* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D001151:Arsenic