2 research outputs found
An Eight-year Study Report on Arsenic Contamination in Groundwater and Health Effects in Eruani Village, Bangladesh and an Approach for Its Mitigation
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
An Eight-year Study Report on Arsenic Contamination in Groundwater and Health Effects in Eruani Village, Bangladesh and an Approach for Its Mitigation
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