Arsenic Contamination of Tube Well Water in Chittagong City, Bangladesh- A Case Study

Arsenic, a semi-metal, colourless, tasteless and odourless toxic element, is known as the “King of Poison” at present. Arsenicosis is a well-known chronic disease which occurs due to drinking of arsenic contaminated tube well water having arsenic level exceeding the normal level for a prolonged period. It is likely to create a significant health impact ranging from skin lesions to cancer culminating in death. In 2008, Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET) and the Institution of Engineers Bangladesh, Chittagong Centre (IEBC) have been jointly conducted a sample survey in 41 Wards, administrative sub-divisions, of the Chittagong city in Bangladesh. From the research, arsenic has been found in shallow tube well water in 13 city wards which exceeds WHO guideline value of 0.01 mg/l for drinking water. In the present work, South Bakalia-a city ward in Chittagong has been taken as the study area for detailed investigation where arsenic concentration was found as 0.3 mg/l to 0.4 mg/l in sample survey. All the tube wells of the ward were tested for measuring arsenic concentration in the field by collecting water sample from tube wells using Wagtech Arsenic Field Test Kit (UK). Arsenic contaminated tube-wells have been marked with red colour paint for future reference and to create public awareness. A total number of 45 deep tube well’s water were also tested randomly throughout the ward and found free from arsenic. Arsenic contamination has been found only in shallow tube wells and clustered in particular areas. Considering the result, arsenic contaminated prone areas within the ward have been identified so that people of the area consume water for drinking purpose from alternate sources.