Abstract:
Arsenic contamination in b'Toundwaterand Its toxic effect on hl.lmanhealth is a new public health
problem in Bangladesh. In Bangladesh more than 90% of the people are dependent on water
supply from the groundwater ~oun;es. For mon::than 50 years, tubewells have been introduced
for safe drinkmg water and domestic purposes, Bllt vcry recently the arsemc conlammation in
groundv>aterand its effect on human health are creating a problem among the people. The study
was undertaken to lUlderstandthe present situation of arsemc contamination 111dnnking water of
Bangladesh. It attempts to know the extent and depth of arsenic occurrence In drinking water of
tubewells, DPHE, Grameen Bank, NlPSOM, BRAC, BUET and other NGOs ha\'e tested
tubewell water in the rural areas of Bangladesh. For thiS purpose, they have followed both
laboratory and field kit methods (specially NTPSOYIkit & MERCK kllj, Although arscnic
contamination ",as first detected 111Bangladesh by the Department of Public Health Eng1l1eering
(DPHE) in 1993, no remarkable remedial aetivmes "'ere sel forth till 1996. According to the
latest survey infonnation or the governmental and non-governmental organizatIOns,about 59
lilas out of 64 are marked as arsenic contaminated areas in Bangladesh About 65 million people
live in these lilas whose IOtalarea IS 87,390 sq. km. Most of them are living at risk ofbemg
affected by arsenic contaminatJon, Arscnic contamination was also found in other parts of the
world where no such risk situation 1, round prevailmg as In Bangladesh. A detailed questionnalTe
survey was conducted to eoilect mfonnalion on different aspects of arseme contammatlon m
dnnking water of tubewells in the study area, Kachua Thana of Chandpur District Using pnmary
and sccondary data from reputed and recognized orgamzatlons involved in various arsenic
oriented programs along with the help of maps and other statistical techniques, the study is
formulated. From thc study, it 1Srevealed that the on going investigation and measurement
techniques of arsenic are not sufficient enough to identity the actual picture of the problem in the
country as a whole. To save the people of the arsenic affectcd areas of Bangladesh, GO's ~d
NGO's are trying to promote different types of water options Kachua Thana of Chandpur
Distnct is considered as a vulnerable area of arsenic contammatlon in its b'TOund"atcrand
different organizations take Initiatives to proVIdesare water options m the territory. The ,tudy
was under taken to know the extent of the prohlem and remedial initiatives taken by different
organizations m Kachua Thana of Chandpur District.
