Arsenic Contamination of Soil and Water and Related Bio-hazards in Bangladesh

Shallow groundwater is heavily contaminated with arsenic in Bangladesh. The results of a total of 77 samples in two studied upazilas Daudkandi and Begumganj showed elevated levels of arsenic contents in tube well water (range: 0.29-0.71 ppm, n = 6), soils (range: 5.64-29.47 ppm DW, n =16), human scalp hair, (range: 2.41-14.91 ppm DW, n = 8), kachu (range: 0.11-3.89 ppm FW, n = 5), water spinach (range: 0.091-2.032 ppm FW, n =6), potato (range: 0.02-1.86 ppm FW, n = 5), danta stem (1.41 ppm FW, n=1) and paddy rice (range: 0.02-3.40 ppm DW, n = 13). No significant level of arsenic was found in balsam apple (n=5), pointed gourd (n=6), ladies finger (n=1) jute leave (n=1) and catfish (n=4). Extensive withdrawal of arsenic contaminated groundwater contaminates surface soils and plants and thus affects the food chain. 138 Fate of Arsenic in the Environment