Impacts of Salinity Intrusion in Community Health: A Review of Experiences on Drinking Water Sodium from Coastal Areas of Bangladesh

Increasing salt intake has substantial negative impacts on human health and well-being. This article focused on the construction of Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) framework for drinking water sodium (DWS) followed by a review on the published studies regarding salinity intrusion, DWS, and their effects on health perspectives in Bangladesh. Saline water is an important factor for hypertension or high blood pressure in the coastal areas. DWS can also lead women, especially pregnant women, to an increased risk of (pre)eclampsia, hypertension, as well as infant mortality. Several interventions, such as rainwater harvesting, pond sand filter (PSF) system, managed aquifer recharge (MAR), and pilot scale solar-powered desalination plants, such as reverse osmosis (RO), were reviewed on the context of their effectiveness in controlling drinking water sodium. Although rainwater consumption has the positive impact of low or no sodium intake, it still possesses negative impacts from not having vital minerals. A steady increment in sodium concentration through the span of the dry season was observed in MAR. It is, subsequently, important to increase awareness on DWS intake by providing and adopting correct technological interventions and training communities on the maintenance of the adaptive measures

Spatio-temporal assessment and trend analysis of surface water salinity in the coastal region of Bangladesh

The study was designed to collect water samples over two seasons-wet-monsoon season (n = 96) (March-April) and dry-monsoon season (n = 44) (September October)-to understand the seasonal variation in anion and cation hydrochemistry of the coastal rivers and estuaries contributing in the spatial trend in salinity. Hydrochemical examination of wet-monsoon season primarily revealed Ca-MgHCO3 type (66%) and followed by Na-Cl type (17.70%) water. In the dry-monsoon season, the scenario reversed with primary water being Na-Cl type (52.27%) followed by Ca-Mg-HCO3 type (31.81%). Analysis of Cl/Br molar ratio vs. Cl (mg/L) depicted sampling area affected by seawater intrusion (SWI). Spatial analysis by ordinary kriging method confirmed approximately 77% sample in the dry-monsoon, and 34% of the wet-monsoon season had shown SWI. The most saline-intruded areas in the wet-monsoon seasons were extreme south-west coastal zone of Bangladesh, lower Meghna River floodplain and Meghna estuarine floodplain and southeastern part of Chittagong coastal plains containing the districts of Chittagong and Cox's Bazar adjacent to Bay of Bengal. In addition, mid-south zone is also affected slightly in the dry-monsoon season. From the analyses of data, this study could further help to comprehend seasonal trends in the hydrochemistry and water quality of the coastal and estuarine rivers. In addition, it can help policy makers to obligate some important implications for the future initiatives taken for the management of land, water, fishery, agriculture and environment of coastal rivers and estuaries of Bangladesh

Flood vulnerability, local perception and gender role judgment using multivariate analysis: A problem-based âparticipatory action to Future Skill Managementâ to cope with flood impacts

Flood impacts and social vulnerability are substantial threats for the sustainable development of the developing world. This study focuses on some particular points of flood impacts and the local concept towards existing management capacity. Additionally, significant focus was given to gender roles and how they may impact measures that aim towards reducing flood risks. Both qualitative and quantitative techniques were applied during the research, in order to understand the perception of the char-land communities on natural hazards, social crisis, resource accessibility, climatic uncertainty and the gender role to cope with flood consequences. Concurrently the questionnaire survey and focus group discussion (FGD) was performed among the local people. This study revealed that majority of the people was directly threatened by the destructive consequences of flood hazards, which in turn, badly influenced the household economies, alongside its education, security and infrastructural prospects. Some decades ago, the application of indigenous techniques was deemed successful as the communities managed to effectively reduce the risk involved with potential floods. However, now the solution is no longer clear as it is disturbed by external climate components. Results showed the vulnerability of the local communities in terms of knowledge, resource access, communication system, proper information dissemination, health, and livelihood. The gender variability is believed to have significant value in terms of flood disaster risk reduction, household development, and family caring activities. Principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis (CA) has clearly identified the gender role in the char-land community. The women's activities are profoundly focused in terms of the flood risk management, and the families generally do not properly appreciate the value of women and their role. However, the problem-based âParticipatory Action to Future Skill Management (PFM)â for flood risk reduction in the char-land area can ensure to knowledge empowerment and capacity builds up, to achieve community resilience and sustainability in adverse climate conditions. The government should take appropriate actions in order to figure out the basic problem, and should issue focused policy practices among the char-land communities to bring them in sustainable trends. Keywords: Flood vulnerability, Char-land, Local perception, Gender participation, Resource accessibility and problem-based PF

Evaluation of Water Quality for Sustainable Agriculture in Bangladesh

Sustainable groundwater quality has become a major concern for the agro-based country like Bangladesh. Integrated approaches of various irrigation water quality indices and geostatistical modeling were applied to evaluate the suitability and for spatial mapping of groundwater quality of Faridpur District in central Bangladesh. The irrigation water quality index (IWQI) revealed that majority of the samples were suitable for irrigation. Similar outcomes were recorded from other indices including Na%, sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), residual sodium bicarbonate (RSBC), total hardness (TH), Kelley's ratio (KR), and magnesium adsorption ratio (MAR). Classifications based on Wilcox diagram and permeability index (PI) plot indicated a similar conclusion wherein almost all the samples were safe for agricultural uses without posing considerable effect on the soil fertility and overall crop yield. Principal component analysis (PCA) grouped the major cations and anions into three principal components including dissolution of calcite minerals, leaching of silicate sediments, and ion exchange process. Spatial mapping of IWQI identified that groundwater in the northern side of Faridpur region were more suitable for irrigational uses relative to central and southern side, possibly due to gradients of domestic discharges and agricultural activates from north to south side. These findings would provide useful information to water distributors, managers, and decision makers for taking adaptive measures in irrigation water quality management systems

Characterization of groundwater quality using water evaluation indices, multivariate statistics and geostatistics in central Bangladesh

This study investigates the groundwater quality in the Faridpur district of central Bangladesh based on preselected 60 sample points. Water evaluation indices and a number of statistical approaches such as multivariate statistics and geostatistics are applied to characterize water quality, which is a major factor for controlling the groundwater quality in term of drinking purposes. The study reveal that EC, TDS, Ca2+, total As and Fe values of groundwater samples exceeded Bangladesh and international standards. Ground water quality index (GWQI) exhibited that about 47% of the samples were belonging to good quality water for drinking purposes. The heavy metal pollution index (HPI), degree of contamination (Cd), heavy metal evaluation index (HEI) reveal that most of the samples belong to low level of pollution. However, Cd provide better alternative than other indices. Principle component analysis (PCA) suggests that groundwater quality is mainly related to geogenic (rock–water interaction) and anthropogenic source (agrogenic and domestic sewage) in the study area. Subsequently, the findings of cluster analysis (CA) and correlation matrix (CM) are also consistent with the PCA results. The spatial distributions of groundwater quality parameters are determined by geostatistical modeling. The exponential semivariagram model is validated as the best fitted models for most of the indices values. It is expected that outcomes of the study will provide insights for decision makers taking proper measures for groundwater quality management in central Bangladesh

Hydrogeochemical evolution of shallow and deeper aquifers in central Bangladesh: arsenic mobilization process and health risk implications from the potable use of groundwater

Protection of groundwater quality from various natural and anthropogenic forces is a prime concern in Bangladesh. In this study, we utilized groundwater geochemistry of shallow and deeper aquifers to investigate the hydrogeochemical processes controlling water quality, and the sources and mechanism of Arsenic (As) release to water and associated human health risks in the Faridpur district, Bangladesh. Analysis of hydrochemical facies indicated that groundwaters were Ca–Mg–HCO3\ua0type and that water–rock interactions were the dominant factors controlling their major-ion chemical composition. The dissolution of calcite, dolomite, and silicates, as well as cation exchange processes regulated the major ions chemistry in the groundwater. Dissolved fluoride (F−) concentrations (0.02–0.4\ua0mg/L) were lower than the drinking water standard of 1.5\ua0mg/L set by the World Health Organization (WHO). Arsenic contamination of groundwater is among the biggest health threats in Bangladesh. The measured As concentration (0.01–1.46\ua0mg/L with a mean of 0.12\ua0mg/L) exceeded the maximum permissible limit of Bangladesh and WHO for drinking water. The estimated carcinogenic risk of As exceeded the upper benchmark of 1 × 10–4\ua0for both adult and children, and health threats from shallow groundwater were more severe than the deeper water. The vertical distribution of As resembled Fe and Mn with their higher concentrations in shallow Holocene aquifers and lower in deeper Pleistocene aquifers. Speciation calculation indicated the majority of groundwater samples were oversaturated with respect to siderite, calcite, and dolomite, while undersaturated with respect to rhodochrosite. The saturation state of the minerals along with other processes may exert kinetic control on As, Fe, and Mn distribution in groundwater and lead to their lack of statistically significant correlations. Microbially mediated reductive dissolution of Fe and Mn oxyhydroxides is envisaged as the primary controlling mechanism of As mobilization in Faridpur groundwater. Pyrite oxidation was not postulated as a plausible explanation of As pollution

The COVID-19 pandemic and serious psychological consequences in Bangladesh: a population-based nationwide study

Background: As with countries worldwide, lockdown measures during the COVID-19 outbreak in Bangladesh were sudden and unexpected, and have the capacity to elicit serious psychological consequences. The present study examined the psychological consequences of COVID-19 in Bangladesh during the lockdown period. Methods: A nationwide online cross-sectional survey study recruited 10,067 individuals covering all 64 districts in Bangladesh via social media (April 1-10, 2020). The survey comprised questions concerning socio-demographics, knowledge of COVID-19, behavior towards COVID-19, fear of COVID-19, insomnia, depression, and suicidal ideation. Logistic regression and structural equation modeling (SEM) analyses were performed to identify the risk factors depression and suicidal ideation. Geographical information system (GIS)-based spatial analysis was used to identify district-wise susceptibility to depression and suicidal ideation. Findings: The prevalence rate of depression and suicidal ideation related to COVID-19 was 33% and 5%. Common risk factors for suicidal ideation and depression included being young, being female, being a cigarette smoker, having comorbid diseases, having high scores on the Fear COVID-19 Scale, and having insomnia symptoms. GIS-based maps detected high depression and suicidal ideation in the capital of Bangladesh and the districts near the capital as well as coastal areas where COVID-19 prevalence was high, as compared with districts with no reported cases. Limitations: Self-reported scales and cross-sectional design of our study. Conclusion: COVID-19 is associated with major psychological impact across Bangladesh, underlining the need of strategically located psychological support measures and improved access to mental health services, especially among women and younger people