Abstract:
Neutron activation analysis (NAA) technique has been applied for the ~tudy of
arsenic contents in soil, food (rice and vegetables) and human hair samples collected
from different regions of Bangladesh. Some water and sediment samples were also
anaJ)?ed. The samples were analyzed at Institute ofNuc1ear Science and Technology
(INST), Sayar, Dhaka, Bangladesh and Pakistan T[l~lillLleof Nuclear Science and
Technology (PINSTECH), Islamabad, Pakistan using TRIUi\ Mark-II, PARR-J and
PARR-II research reactors. For the prc<;cnt work, th~ silmples were collected [rom
some unaffected. moderately affected and highly affected areas of Bangladesh.
Selected unaffected area~ arc again some parts of Goainghat, Companiganj and
Sylhct sadar upazilas of Sylhct district and Sayar upazila, Dhaka. From unaffected
areas samples of water, topsoil, sediment, rice and hrunan hair were collected and
analyzed. Companiganj upazila ,vas fonnd to be a modcrately affected area. Eighteen
water samples of this area were analyzed to iind the level of arsenic pollution using
atomic absorption spectrometry for convenience. Soil, ricc. vegetables and brunan
hair sample~ ofthcsc areas "'ere aL~oanalyzed. Kachua and faridganj npazilas under
Chandpur district: Damurhuda upazila under Chuadanga district and Lohajang
upazila under Munshiganj district were found to be highly arsenic affected areas.
Thirteen undisturbed sediment samples ofKachua upa/ila wcre analyzed for arsenic,
iron and manganese concentrations Soil, rice, vegetables and human hair of these
area:. \\'ere also analyzed. The unaffected (water arsenic below 50 f-lgIL),moderately
affected (water arsenic greater than 50 flglL and less than IO() jlgiL) and highly
affected areas (water arsenic greater than 100 f-lg/L)have been gradcd on the basis of
limits given by some NGO's (:K'GO Forum, BRAC, Grameen Bank etc.) and other
groups working in Bangladcsh. Arsenic and iron were found to be positIvely
correlated in all kinds of matrices, No correlation wa~ found between arsenic and
manganese; belween water arsenic and hair arsenic, and also between soil arsenic
and ar:.enie in rice grain. However, sometimcs negative correlation was found
between arsenic and manganese in sample matrices,
In the present investigation no evidence was found about arsenic pollution of rice
beyond perrni~sible level. Similarly. among vegetables only arum samples contain
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arsenic, which contain, both inorganic and organic arsenic. Some of organic spcdes
are less harmful for human health. Most oj"the soil, of llangladesh contain les~ than
10 ppm arsenic except Lohajang ~oiI. PeopJe living in arsenic affected areas have
arsenic concenrratlOn in hair as high a~ 50 ppm; whereas, hair arsenic in unaffected
areas is less than J ppm.
