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Arsenic Crisis News
March 2003 V3 N05
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+ From the Editor

+ Recent & Upcoming Meetings & Conferences
Updated Conference Web Pages & Sites

+ Selected Recent Media Articles Online

+ New & Newly-Discovered Scientific & Technical
Publications On & Off Line

+ New & Newly-Discovered Web Sites & Web Pages
Updated Web Sites & Web Pages

+ New & Newly Discovered Real World Stuff

+ Publication & Other Details


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ACN is published by the Arsenic Crisis Info Centre, (c) ACIC.
Website http://www.bicn.com/acic. Editor Sara Bennett.

Email addresses appear in this newsletter with a space before &
after the @ symbol. To send email to an address, you must first
remove the spaces.

To visit long URLs that spill over onto more than one line, cut and
paste the *entire* URL (all lines of it) into the address pane of
your browser. Generally clicking on such URLs does *not* work.

See end of message for how to subscribe, unsubscribe, submit, etc.

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FROM THE EDITOR

Continuation of ACIC beyond June 2003: It looks like it may be
possible to come up with arrangements for a new 'home' for ACIC at a
Bangladeshi organization with funding through a donor-assisted
arsenic project here in Bangladesh. This is currently still at the
'idea' stage but it looks promising.


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RECENT & UPCOMING MEETINGS & CONFERENCES AND UPDATED CONFERENCE
WEBPAGES & SITES

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Recent conference
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The Fifth International India Bangladesh Symposia 2003, 2-3 March
(Calcutta) & 5-6 March (Dhaka): Reducing the Impact of Toxic
Contamination on Bengal Basin Economies

The International Institute of Bengal Basin (IIBB) and the Centre on
Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP) are
organizing the 5th Symposium on Reducing the Impact of Toxic
Contamination on Bengal Basin Economies in Calcutta, West Bengal,
India (2-3 March 2003-tentative*) and Dhaka, Bangladesh (5-6 March
2003).

Groundwater, which is used as main source of drinking water in
Bengal Basin, was found to be contaminated with arsenic and other
toxic poisons. The arsenic presence in the surface water in this
region is higher than any other regions in the world. Arsenic and
other toxics have serious harmful effects on human health and
environment. Arsenic and toxic poisoning is widespread in the Bengal
Basin resulting in the largest toxic poisoning in the history of
mankind. About 70 million or one-third of the population of the
Basin are affected and suffer from various diseases, such as warts,
skin lesions and cancers. This serious water problem can be
attributed to the combination of ineffective water resource
management, industrialization, and the rapid increase of population.
In the recent past, several international and national meetings and
symposia addressed these issues, which were attended by many experts
in the field. IIBB shall continue working towards finding cost-
effective solutions to address this toxic crisis. If the combined
efforts of scholars, experts, and communities are successful in
mitigating the water and environmental crisis then it is possible to
use this experience as a working model for other emerging economies.

The two-day program in both locations will feature paper
presentations and discussions on three thematic areas:

Theme1: Toxic Crisis - Effects and Impacts on Bengal Basin Economies
Theme 2: Toxic Crisis and Response to the Crisis
Theme 3: Dealing with the Toxic Crisis - Future Perspectives and
Actions

Topics will include: arsenic contamination of groundwater, arsenic
mitigation and removal, technologies, hydrology, geology,
identification and protection of damaged aquifers and protection of
the unaffected production aquifers, epidemiology, environmental
consequences, toxicology, relationship between the surface and
groundwater impact of annual flood on Bengal basin and other South
Asian countries, impact of pesticides on surface and ground water
and on the food chain, impacts of air pollutants on public and
environmental health and health affects., ecology and health of
Bengal basin's rivers, estuaries and bay of Bengal, canopy
chemistry, nutrient cycling, wood productivity and mangrove forests.

For more information, see
http://www.nvo.com/ghosh_research/faqaboutus/


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Upcoming conferences
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The 3rd World Water Forum: Technological and Policy Dimensions of
Arsenic Contamination in the Asian Region

Water Supply, Sanitation, Hygiene, and Water Pollution, Sunday, 16
March 2003, Kyoto International Conference Hall (KICH), Suehiro
Room, Kyoto, Japan

Co-organized by United Nations University (UNU), United Nations
Children's Fund (UNICEF), World Health Organization (WHO), National
Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES), Bangladesh University of
Engineering and Technology (BUET). Session Convener: Dr. Zafar
Adeel, UNU. Session Chairs: Prof. Motoyuki Suzuki (UNU) and Ms.
Vanessa Tobin (UNICEF)

15:45-16:00 Opening Remarks - Prof. Hans van Ginkel, UN Under-
Secretary General and UNU Rector

16:00-16:20 The arsenic crisis in the Asian region and UNU's role -
Dr. Zafar Adeel, UNU

16:20-16:40 Arsenic remediation initiatives by UNICEF in Bangladesh
and India - Dr. Colin Davis, UNICEF Bangladesh

16:40-17:00 Health-related challenges of the arsenic crisis - Mr.
Hiroki Hashizume, WHO

17:20-17:40 Policy options adopted by the Government of Bangladesh -
Prof. Feroze Ahmed, BUET

17:40-18:00 Future research directions for arsenic remediation - Dr.
Minichinori Kabuto, NIES

18:00-18:30 Open discussion and formulation of recommendations

[From http://www.unu.edu/env/Arsenic/WWFSession.htm ]


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Invitation and Call for Papers - Advances in Arsenic Research:
Integration of Experimental and Observational Studies and
Implications for Mitigation

To be held at the 226th Annual Meeting of the American Chemical
Society, New York, NY 7-11 September, 2003

Dear colleagues:

You are cordially invited to submit abstracts for this symposium,
sponsored by the Division of Geochemistry (GEOC).

The discovery in recent years of numerous water supplies worldwide
affected by arsenic at concentrations above acceptable health levels
has prompted a plethora of research directed at understanding the
occurrence, distribution, and mobilization of arsenic in the
environment, and spurred the development of cost-effective treatment
technologies.

This special session will focus on bridging the gap between
different approaches and scales of investigation, and fostering a
more unified understanding of arsenic occurrence and behavior.
Papers on arsenic-related research encompassing geological,
geochemical, hydrological, microbiological, and ecological aspects
are welcome, in particular studies emphasizing the integration of
basic research with mitigation and remediation strategies.

Abstracts may be submitted online at: http://oasys.acs.org/
Deadline for online abstract submission: May 11,2003
Deadline for hardcopy abstract submission: April 28 2003

Check the Geochemistry Division web site for updates:
http://membership.acs.org/g/geoc/

For additional information contact the organizers:

Peggy O'Day
Arizona State University
oday@...

Dimitri Vlassopoulos
S.S. Papadopulos and Associates, Inc.
dimitri@...

Liane Benning
University of Leeds
liane@...


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Conference papers now online
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Papers Presented At International Symposium on Fate of Arsenic in
the
Environment, Dhaka 5-6 February 2003

This symposium was jointly organized by International Training
Network (ITN) - Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology
(BUET), and Environment and Sustainable Development (ESD) Programme -
The United Nations University (UNU), Tokyo, Japan.

For the full text of these papers, see
http://www.unu.edu/env/Arsenic/BUETSymposiumProc.htm

Titles & Authors:

Arsenic Occurrence in Drinking Water of I.R of Iran: The Case of
Kurdistan Province. M. Mosaferi, M. Yunesian, A. Mesdaghinia, A.
Nadim, S. Nasseri and A. H. Mahvi.

Fate of Arsenic Extracted With Groundwater. M. Ashraf Ali, A. B. M.
Badruzzaman, M. A. Jalil, M. Delwar Hossain, M. Feroze Ahmed,
Abdullah Al Masud, Md. Kamruzzaman and M. Azizur Rahman.

Influence of Upstream Sediment on Arsenic Contamination of
Groundwater in Bangladesh. Mohammod Aktarul Islam Chowdhury, M.
Feroze Ahmed and M. Ashraf Ali.

Can Water Storage Habits Influence the Cancer Risk of Drinking
Arsenic Contaminated Water? Anitha Kumari Sharma and Jens Christian
Tjell.

Arsenic Enrichment in Estuarine Sediments - Impact of Iron and
Manganese Mining. Maheswari Nair, T. Joseph, K.K. Balachandran,
K.K.C.Nair and J. S. Paimpillil.

Extent and Severity of Arsenic Contamination in Soils of
Bangladesh. S. M. Imamul Huq, Anisur Rahman, Nazma Sultana and Ravi
Naidu.

Arsenic in Plant-Soil Environment in Bangladesh. M. Ashraf Ali, A.
B. M. Badruzzaman, M. A. Jalil, M. Delwar Hossain, M. Feroze Ahmed,
Abdullah Al Masud, Md. Kamruzzaman and M. Azizur Rahman.

A Study of Arsenic Contaminated Irrigation Water and its Carried
Over Effect on Vegetable. A. T. M. Farid, K. C. Roy, K. M. Hossain
and R. Sen.

Arsenic Concentration of Rice in Bangladesh. Hiromi Hironaka and
Sk. Akhtar Ahmad.

Accumulation of Arsenic in Rice Plant from Arsenic Contaminated
Irrigation Water and Effect on Nutrient Content. Md. Zahangir Alam
and Md. Mujibur Rahman.

Arsenic Contamination of Soil and Water and Related Biohazards in
Bangladesh. H. K. Das, D. A. Chowdhury, S. Rahman and Obaidullah,
M. U. Miah, P. Sengupta and F. Islam.

Fate of Arsenic in Wastes Generated From Arsenic Removal Units. M.
Ashraf Ali, A. B. M. Badruzzaman, M. A. Jalil, M. Feroze Ahmed, Md.
Kamruzzaman, M. Azizur Rahman and Abdullah Al Masud.

Leaching of Arsenic from Wastes of Arsenic Removal Systems. A. B.
M. Badruzzaman.

Leaching of Arsenic from Iron Oxide Impregnated Brick Sands (Shapla
Filter Media) Using Common Chemicals and Water. M. Fakhrul Islam,
M. Moklesur Rahman and Sad Ahamed.

Effects of Using Arsenic-Iron Sludge in Brick Making. Md. Abdur
Rouf and Md. Delwar Hossain.


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Third International India Bangladesh Symposium, "On reducing the
impact of toxic chemicals in the Bengal Basin," 10-12 Feb Calcutta &
14-16 Feb 2001 Dhaka

Abstracts now available online at
http://www.nvo.com/ghosh_research/abstracts20016/


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SELECTED RECENT MEDIA ARTICLES ONLINE

Articles from other sources than News From Bangladesh are presented
first, then the NFB articles. Within these two categories article
appear by publication date, most recent first.

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Arsenic warning to watercress gatherers
28 January 2003

Aquatic plants may provide an answer to problems with arsenic-
contaminated drinking water, Hortresearch scientist Brent Robinson
said yesterday.

High arsenic levels have been blamed for some types of cancer.

Dr Robinson said a survey of aquatic plants from geothermal regions
around Taupo and Rotorua, and the Waikato River, had shown they were
accumulating concentrations of up to 3000 parts per million of
arsenic.

"This may be a low-cost means of improving public health in
countries like Bangladesh and West Bengal in India, where there are
high levels of arsenic in the water that can result in widespread
poisoning...."

Dr Robinson said the survey could also have health implications for
New Zealanders who gathered large quantities of watercress for
eating in streams fed with geothermal water.

The discovery of levels of up to 3000 parts per million of arsenic
in the aquatic plants was " an extraordinary find, and quite
disturbing as people eat watercress," he said in a statement.

Watercress from uncontaminated streams that had no geothermal water
flowing into them was probably safe to eat.

"We would like to find out how these aquatic plants accumulate
arsenic, and whether they could be used to remove arsenic from
drinking water," he said.

In New Zealand, arsenic has also been recorded as a significant
problem at an estimated 10,000 former sheep dip sites and in sawdust
and wood shavings at former timber treatment sites.

[
http://ad.nz.doubleclick.net/adi/N2761.stuff/B1103135.2;sz=150x600;or
d=85174 ]


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NEWS FROM BANGLADESH ARTICLES
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Arsenic shrinks safe water access - 20 Feb 2003

By Naimul Haq

High percentage of arsenic-affected tubewells in rural areas has
shrunk overall access to safe drinking water. According to
available statistics, 75 per cent of the population has access to
safe drinking water now, down from 97 per cent in 1997. Whereas the
national water policy requires one 'safe water point' for every
fifty people, the ratio now is 100 to one.

Sources say 3,571 out of 109,022 deep tubewells that can supply safe
drinking water are now out of order. Also, 45,025 out of 1,057,267
hand-pumped tubewells are inoperative. The percentage of arsenic-
affected tubewells is more than 90 in Chandpur, Narayanganj,
Noakhali, Laxmipur and Chapainawabganj, and between 20 and 40 in
Faridpur, Gopalganj, Comilla, Jessore, Khulna, Barisal, Rajshahi,
Natore and Naogaon.

In one Chandpur upazila, Hajiganj, all the tubewells are
contaminated. On average, there are some 30,000 tubewells in one
upazila. Presence of arsenic in groundwater beyond the World Health
Organisation standard was first detected in 1993. Three years later,
the government declared arsenic contamination a national disaster.

Twenty-nine per cent of some 1.2 million tubewells the Department of
Public Health and Engineering (DPHE) installed are arsenic-
contaminated. Alternative arrangements for safe drinking water in
the affected areas, provided by the government, are mostly
insignificant and confined to a few families. Although the
government encourages use of surface water, filtered with locally
developed technique, and water from wells, people find it
inconvenient and revert to the tubewell water despite arsenic
contamination.

Meanwhile in 1998-99, the DPHE and the British Geological Survey
detected high levels of uranium, manganese, boron, sulphur,
fluoride, molybdenum, barium and phosphorus in groundwater samples
from 61 districts. "We don't have laboratories facility now to test
water for these chemicals," DPHE Executive Engineer Ihtishamul Huq
told The Daily Star.

In Dhaka city, low levels of arsenic, antimony, boron, cadmium,
nickel, chromium, molybdenum and uranium have also been detected in
piped water. "If you consider the DPHE-BGS report and recent
surveys on tubewells, groundwater in only a few areas in the
northern districts are free from chemical poisoning," said an
expert.

"The fact is, the government machinery has no system to determine
the number of arsenic-contaminated tubewells. They are just relying
on estimates that have no relevance," observed another. (The Daily
Star)

http://www.bangladesh-web.com/news/feb/20/n20022003.htm#A12


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Over 60 pc of country "have arsenic in groundwater" - 19 Feb 2003

Over 60 per cent of Bangladesh has shown signs of deadly arsenic
contamination in its groundwater. A study on "Water Availability
and Usage Regime in Rural Bangladesh: commissioned under Sustainable
Environmental Management Programme (SEMP) of the Ministry of
Environment and Forest revealed this finding Tuesday. UN
Development Programme (UNDP) is funding the SEMP. The study has also
stated that the water-abundant country is facing a serious shortage
of water for irrigation and drinking purposes....

Since groundwater is generally perceived safe for drinking, some of
the traditional water purification and storage practices have all
but vanished, the report alleged. Unfortunately, the country now
faces a massive and pervasive arsenic contamination in its
groundwater aquifers, it said. (The Financial Express)

http://www.bangladesh-web.com/news/feb/19/l19022003.htm#A1


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Arsenic Poisoning - A National And Personal Tragedy - 17 Feb 2003

By Sylvia Mortoza

After reading what Dr M I Zuberi of the University of Rajshahi has
to say about arsenic poisoning, we all have a very vivid picture of
what is going on in numerous villages throughout Bangladesh. This
is of increasing concern especially as we know about 29 million
people are still drinking water containing arsenic in excess of 50
ug/L even though many years have passed since its discovery.

Although Dr Zuberi reports specifically on the findings of one of
his students - a member of the Arsenic Mitigation Group (AMGRU) of
the university - when he paid a visit to his village in Sarishabari
Upazila, Jamalpur, the same may be said for many, if not all the
villages in Bangladesh. At his village, Izarapara, and its
neighboring village Gibindanagar, the people, indeed the whole of
this district is badly affected by arsenic contamination.

These particular villages are large as villages go and have between
3000 to 4000 inhabitants each. Although the student could examine
only a sample of ten families, they were representative of the rest
of the village. He found most of those above the age of 18 to 20
have been affected by ingesting arsenic and have the telltale spots,
warts and ulcerations. One member had an ulcer on his leg. The leg
was later amputated but even that drastic measure was not enough to
save his life.

The sad part of the story is that as reported by the villagers, they
have had these symptoms for several years but was not aware of the
cause, that is arsenic in the drinking water. But that is not the
end of the story. The people of village Izarapara drank water from
six hand-pumped tubewells but when the Department of Public Health
and Engineering (DPHE) tested them for arsenic in 2001, they were
all found highly contaminated.

Although the DPHE labeled and sealed some tube wells, the villagers
resunk four to a deeper depth. The DPHE also planned to sink one
tubewell to 300 feet but they could not go deeper than 265 feet
because they hit hard rock. But to the disappointment of the
villagers, when tested for arsenic by the DPHE, all the newly sunk
tubewells were also found to contain arsenic at levels above the
recommended 0.05 mg/L.

Before leaving the village, the official told the villagers not to
drink water from these tubewells and then he left without providing
any alternative supply source of drinking water. The result is
villagers have to continue to drink this water because not only are
there any alternatives, they have also not been provided with a
technology that would at least reduce the amount of arsenic.

This is bad enough in it, but worse is yet to come because,
according to the villagers, a Japanese team also came to the village
and examined the water and saw the affected people too. They also
asked them not to drink the water from these tubewells but without
putting anything else in place. Some reported they were promised
help, but as nothing happened, they continue to drink the
contaminated water.

Now that the members of this group are planning to help these
villagers get filters for reducing arsenic in the water, and are
endeavouring to find other sources of arsenic-free water for them,
there is some hope for those villagers who have not yet affected.
But the sick will not find solace from this as though they will be
given treatment and food-therapy to alleviate the toxicity, those
who have already gone past the point of no return will not be
helped.

When Dr Zuberi and his student re-visited this village this year he
was accompanied by Dr Alauddin, a member of the Faculty of Wagner
College, New York (USA), an analytical chemist who has done a great
deal of research on arsenic, in the hope of providing them with
filters and collecting some field data. But that was not possible
as the filters were not available for distributing.

The result of tests carried out on water samples collected from 8
tube wells of the village was available however. Four were highly
contaminated (304, 270, 226 and 107 ug/l ) and three with low (two
<2.0 and one 8.6 ug/l). Though the visitors suggested the villagers
have two dug-wells in their locality, they were more interested in
having an arsenic filter each.

The search is still on for an effective and sustainable solution
that is culturally acceptable, it is with a tinge of sadness that
some technologies already proven effective, are not being made
available because of bureaucratic hang-ups or red tape.

One particular technology that is "home grown" in the sense it has
been designed by a Bangladeshi scientist for the express purpose of
helping his brethren overcome the arsenic problem has still not been
sanction as for sale to affected villagers. In fact, according to
reliable reports, the authorities insist nothing can be placed on
the market or even given away, without a certificate from BSCIR even
though they may have passed the environmental tests of BAMWSP/OCETA,
the Canadian environmental technology verification project. But if,
as reported, BCSIR is not in a position to test new technologies for
another six months, should people be deprived of this for some
bureaucratic hand up?

Moreover, there is little effort underway to discover the
preferences of rural households but one thing can be gleaned -
people are reluctant to accept a technology that is less convenient
than the tubewell. People will opt for either piped water or
tubewell water whether or not it contains arsenic and this is the
major problem because it is clear that the level of awareness among
the people about arsenic and its health hazards is too low and now
that arsenic is also building up in the soil from irrigation and is
moving fast into the crops, the arsenic hazard is about to increase.

After all, rice is our staple crop. It provides people with 70
percent of their daily intake of calories and though it is grown
mainly under rain fed conditions, when rice is irrigated by
groundwater that is contaminated, it will affect the crops. With
the demand for food grains expected to grow by 2.5 per cent per
annum in the next 10-20 years, maintaining the sanctity of our rice
crop will be all but impossible.

What this could mean for people is clear and the failure to pay
attention to this aspect of arsenic contamination is an unforgivable
oversight because as early as 1997 scientists were saying it could
happen, some said it would happen, and that the crops will get
tainted and will in turn taint the meat of the animals we eat, but
did any of us listen?

http://www.bangladesh-web.com/news/feb/17/d17022003.htm#A2


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UNICEF chief wants all tubewells tested by next year - 9 Feb 2003

Unicef representative in Bangladesh Morten Giersing urged Saturday
the authorities concerned to test all tubewells across the country
within the next one year to help tackle the arsenic problem, reports
BSS.

"Bangladesh was exceptionally successful in providing safe water to
people. But the arsenic problem has spoiled that success. It's a
dramatic problem but we need to scale it down because the people
suffer from horrific sickness once they become exposed to the
disease," the Unicef representative said while addressing a seminar
on "Water and Sustainable Development" at the National Press Club in
the city in the city.

Minister for Water Resources L K Siddiqui inaugurated the seminar as
the chief guest. Chairman of Media Network for Sustainable
Development (MNSD) Shamsuddin Ahmed, Executive Director Technology
Syed Shah Habib Ullah, officer in charge of UNIC Kazi Ali Reza,
Feroz Ahmed of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology
(BUET), former director general of Bangladesh Water Development
Board (BWDB) engineer Asaduzzaman and head of water and environment
division of Bangladesh Unnayan Parishad (BUP) Ahsan U Ahmed, among
others, spoke on the occasion.

The MNSD organised the seminar in association with the UNICEF and
the UN Information Centre (UNIC) in the city to create awareness
about significance of the year 2003 as the International Year of
Fresh Water. Morten Giersing said arsenic test requires less than
one dollar per tubewell. He said the Kyoto conference of the World
Water Forum would introduce "water poverty index." Some Bangladeshi
children will also visit the conference as participants of the
children's water forum. Safe water brings down the child mortality
rate, he said. Morten said Bangladesh can achieve 100 per cent
sanitation coverage by 2015 if it takes appropriate steps.

A high-level ministerial conference for Asian nations titled
"AsiaSan-2003" will be held in Dhaka by September, he added. The
Water Resources Minister said many water-related problems and issues
in the developing countries are identical. Like Bangladesh, he
said, the Chinese people are also facing some water-related
problems.

'The difference is, China has control over their water resource but
we don't have that level of control,'' the minister said. Siddiqui
said flood, drought and over-irrigation are annual problems. Feroze
Ahmed said groundwater is the main source of water supply in urban
and rural areas. But availability of the groundwater has emerged as
a problem due to presence of arsenic, excessive dissolved iron,
salinity in the coastal areas and lowering of the groundwater level
etc. (BSS)

http://www.bangladesh-web.com/news/feb/09/n09022003.htm#A7


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Arsenic in vegetables still within limit - 7 Feb 2003

A research found arsenic accumulation in locally produced
vegetables, but the concentrations apparently did not exceed the
acceptable limits. "But arsenic content in some cases is found
higher in vegetables grown with arsenic contaminated water," said
Prof. M Feroze Ahmed at the Department of Civil Engineering,
Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) at a
seminar.

Leafy vegetables contained more arsenic than the fruity ones, he
said while presenting the finds at the conclusion of a two-day
seminar on "Fate of Arsenic in Environment" held at BUET Council
Bhaban.

A high level of arsenic is found in the roots of rice plants, but
the concentration is very low in the stem, leaves and husk.
Besides, arsenic in rice is relatively low, he said.

A team of local and foreign researchers under the auspices of BUET
and the United Nations University, Japan found that some vegetables
were arsenic accumulators. But specification and availability of
arsenic present in all food items are required to understand the
possible health effects, Ahmed added.

Dr. Zafar Adeel at the Department of Civil Engineering of BUET
presented some recommendations at the seminar. These include
finding ways to complete mass balance of arsenic in the environment
and identifying endpoints. (The Daily Star)

http://www.bangladesh-web.com/news/feb/07/n07022003.htm#A8


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Speakers warn against arsenic in food chain - 6 Feb 2003

Widespread use of groundwater for irrigation suggests that ingestion
of crops so produced could be a major source of arsenic poisoning.
Besides, "phyto-toxicity" due to increased arsenic in soil/water and
its long-term impact on agricultural yield is an area of concern,
said speakers at a seminar in the city. And naturally occurring
arsenic and arsenic-rich wastes, generated from a wide range of
arsenic removal systems, also pose a threat "In the absence of any
clear guideline for safe disposal, such wastes are often disposed in
a very unsafe way", they added.

The seminar on the" Fate of Arsenic in the Environment," jointly
organised by Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology
(BUET), International Training Netwrok (ITN), Centre for Environment
and Sustainable Development (ESD) Programme and the United Nations
University (UNU), was held at the BUET Council Bhaban. Experts from
India, Japan, Britain, Pakistan and Bangladesh participated at the
seminar.

The discussion session was divided into two parts. In the first
session, experts presented technical papers on the fate of arsenic
extracted with groundwater, influence of upstream sediment on
arsenic contamination of groundwater in Bangladesh, the cancer risk
of drinking arsenic -contaminated water and a pilot study in
Sonargaon.

M Ashraf Ali presented the paper on the 'fate of arsenic extracted
with groundwater.' He said although considerable work had been done
on arsenic removal from contaminated groundwater and alternate water
supply options, the presence of arsenic in irrigation water did not
receive due attention.

And the dependency on groundwater for public water supply and
irrigation results in a huge quantity of arsenic being cycled
through the environment each year with major implications on public
health and the environment, Ashraf Ali concluded.

In the second session, experts presented papers on arsenic in plant-
soil environment in Bangladesh, extent and severity of arsenic
contamination in soils of Bangladesh, a study of arsenic
contaminated irrigation water and its carried-over effect on
vegetables, accumulation of arsenic in rice plants from arsenic
contaminated irrigation water and its effect on nutrient contents,
arsenic contamination of soil and water and related bio-hazards in
Bangladesh and the fate of arsenic in wastes generated from arsenic
removal units.

BUET Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Alee Murtuza attended the discussion
as the chief guest, while Dr. Zafar Adeel addressed the seminar as
the representative of UNU. Prof. M Abdur Rauf, head of the
department of civil engineering, BUET, chaired the seminar and Prof.
Dr. M Feroze Ahmed delivered the introductory speech. (The Daily
Star)

http://www.bangladesh-web.com/news/feb/06/n06022003.htm#A6


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Arsenic menace takes serious turn in Jessore - 22 Jan 2003

Arsenic menace has taken a serious turn in Jessore district in
recent times. The water of about 65 per cent tube-wells in the four
upazilas of the district is contaminated with arsenic poison, it is
learnt from a reliable source. Panic has gripped the people of the
arsenic affected areas. They do not know how to collect arsenic free
water from distant areas.

It is learnt from a source in the district Public Health Department
that financed by UNICEF Asian Arsenic Network, EPRC, BRAC and some
other non-government organisations (NGOs) have already completed
examining hundred per cent government and public tube-wells under
Sadar, Abhoynagar, Jhikargachha and Monirampur upazilas of the
district.

Water of 55,564 tube-wells of Sadar upazila was tested. The water of
9,699 tube-wells was found containing arsenic poison. Of them 144
tube-wells belonged to the government. The highest number of 70 per
cent tube-wells of Jhikargachha upazila were found containing
arsenic. A total of 22,000 tube-wells were tested in Jhikargachha
upazila.

Out of the tested total 44,300 tube-wells of Monirampur upazila, 51
per cent are contaminated with arsenic. Sixty per cent of the total
tested 15,000 tube-wells of Abhoynagar upazila are arsenic
contaminated.

It is further learnt that all the tube-wells of Poranpur village in
Sadr upazila are arsenic contaminated. Most of the tube-wells of
the village contain 0.5 per cent arsenic, which is above tolerable
quantity. All those tube-wells have been red-marked.

Meanwhile, the government has sunk 1,031 arsenic free tube-wells
including some deep tube-wells under the eight upazilas including
126 in Sadar upazila, 256 in Monirampur upazila, 171 in Sarsha, 125
in Keshabpur, 65 in Chowgachha and 51 arsenic free tube-wells in
Bagharpara upazila. (The Independent)

http://www.bangladesh-web.com/news/jan/22/l22012003.htm#A1


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Arsenic-free water still piped dream - 22 Jan 2003

By Naimul Haq

Even more than six years after the declaration of groundwater
arsenic contamination a national emergency, the government could not
provide safe drinking water to affected areas. According to an
estimate, about eight crore people in 61 districts out of 64 are now
exposed to arsenic contamination. Some of the districts have
arsenic more than the permissible level. In many districts, both
hand-pump tubewells and production wells or deep tubewells were
contaminated.

Laboratory-tested water samples showed that more than 50 per cent of
the tubewells -- both private and government-owned -- were found
contaminated. Four million tubewells have been installed in the
country since the late 1970s. The government and the World Bank
(WB) have so far spent Tk 43.91 crore, a portion on mitigation on
the priority basis in some most affected villages. Still, a large
number of people have no access to safe drinking water.

Of the 714 mitigation schemes, as identified by the government, less
than 100 have been completed. Until now, the project could not
initiate action programmes on 11 municipalities where arsenic was
found in production wells above the permissible level of 50 parts
per billion. However, alternative measures have been taken in
Gopalganj, Faridpur and Chuadanga municipalities.

Despite repeated requests, the government has not yet taken any step
to supply safe drinking water to Chapainawabganj, one of the most
affected municipalities, where four out of 16 production wells have
been shut down due to high levels of arsenic. The rest also affected
beyond the permissible level keep supplying water.

In February 1999, the WB and the government implemented a 44.4
million dollars project -- Bangladesh Arsenic Mitigation Water
Supply (BAMWSP) -- exclusively for safe drinking water. But less
than 23 per cent of the funds could not be utilised due to
bureaucratic tangles, mismanagement and corruption. A large portion
of the money was spent on consultants, goods, training, salaries
etc. Meanwhile, many villages in Narayanganj, Chandpur, Noakhali,
Laxmipur, Jessore, Khulna, Chapainawabganj, Rajshahi, Faridpur and
Comilla identified as 'hot spots' are still without safe drinking
water options.

In 1996, soon after the official confirmation and government's
appeal to donors, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
extended help in two phases to explore the extent of the crisis. It
provided two million dollars to screen 500 villages on an emergency
basis. The UNDP also gave very limited vitamins and ointments for
treatment of arsenic patients.

Dr AZM Iftikhar Hossain, the then project director of the UNDP-
funded project, said, "There is nothing to panic. The lesions on
skin will disappear if people stop using the contaminated water.
They have to take vitamins for a quick recovery."

Dr Alan Smith, a senior consultant of the World Health Organisation
(WHO), who was invited from the USA to recommend on the possible
remedies, made similar recommendations which were largely ignored.

Chandpur is among five most affected districts in the country where
preliminary surveys showed that 83 per cent of tubewell water had
concentration of arsenic above the permissible level. Similarly,
many villagers in Barisal, Jessore and Khulna, with over 90 per cent
of the tubewells contaminated, have no alternative.

The Department of Public Health and Engineering (DPHE) in Chandpur
confirmed detection of arsenic in almost all tubewells tested so
far. (The Daily Star)

http://www.bangladesh-web.com/news/jan/22/n22012003.htm#A8


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Arsenic spells danger for millions of Nepalis - 11 Jan 2003

AFP, Kathmandu

Millions of Nepalis are at risk from diseases caused by drinking
water contaminated with the poison arsenic, doctors say. The
problem is affecting the Terai lowlands, home to 47 percent of
Nepal's 22.3 million people. "People are suffering from skin and
other serious diseases due to drinking underground unfiltered water
laced with arsenic in the Terai region, adjoining the Indian states
of West Bengal, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh," said Roshan Man Shrestha,
a doctor with the Public Health Concern Centre non-governmental
organisation (NGO).

Some 90 percent of the people living in the region use the
underground water pumped to the surface by shallow tubewells. A
survey of Terai's 20 districts from 1997-2001 by the Public Health
Services NGO, along with experts from the UN children's agency,
UNICEF and the World Health Organisation (WHO), found the water's
arsenic levels failed WHO standards.

"Out of some 200,000 shallow tubewells constructed along the
tropical region, tests on about 20,000 tubewells have been
conducted," Public Health Concern Centre official Prasant Chaudhary
told AFP. "After the tests, the amount of 0.01 milligrams to 0.05
milligrams of arsenic per litre was detected in the underground
water," Chaudhary said.

The permissible limit for arsenic in Nepal, as well as in India,
China and Bangladesh is 0.05 milligrams per litre. But the WHO's
limit is 0.01 milligrams. "If anybody drinks the water containing
arsenic for about 10 years, he begins to have a serious health
problem like skin diseases, deafness, blindness or even liver cancer
and weakening of the bones," Chaudhary said. Ram Sharan Duwadi, of
the government's Public Health Department, said villagers in the
Terai often complained of dizziness and hearing problems which could
be attributed to arsenic in the water.

Research on arsenic poisoning first began in Nepal in 1999 following
similar cases in the neighbouring Indian states of Bihar, West
Bengal and Uttar Pradesh as well as in Bangladesh. More than a
dozen arsenic-poisoning investigation units are in operation in
Nepal, although the exact number of people affected is not
known. "As such incidents are comparatively recent, most people are
ignorant about the matter," said Shrestha. ( AFP/ The Daily Star )

http://www.bangladesh-web.com/news/jan/11/i11012003.htm#A3


=====================================================================
NEW & NEWLY DISCOVERED SCIENTIFIC/TECHNICAL PUBLICATIONS ON & OFF
LINE

Sorted by year (newest first), alphabetical by title within each
year.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
2003
-----------------------------------------------------------------

Dipankar Chakraborti writes: "Environmental Science and Health
Volume 38, Issue 1, 2003 is a 'Special Issue On Arsenic: Environment
And Health Aspects With Special Reference To Groundwater In South
Asia.' Altogether there are 18 articles in the issue with a total
of 305 pages. The guest editors for the issue are Dipankar
Chakraborti (INDIA), Abul Hussam (USA), and Mohammad Alauddin (USA)."

The journal is online at:

http://www.dekker.com/servlet/product/productid/ESE/toc?nb=


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Fighting arsenic at the grassroots: experience of BRAC's community
awareness initiative in Bangladesh. Health Policy Plan 2003
Mar;18(1):93-100. Hadi A.

Abstract: The study evaluates the arsenic mitigation project of
BRAC in raising awareness of arsenic poisoning in rural communities
in Bangladesh. Data came from selected project villages in south-
western Bangladesh. Comparison villages were also selected from the
same region. A total of 1240 randomly selected adults were
interviewed in May 2000. Findings reveal that the mitigation
project played a significant, positive role in raising awareness of
the safe water options, signs of arsenicosis, mode of transmission
and the type of treatment. Testing tube-well water for arsenic
created curiosity, innovation and interest in the community, and the
water treatment plant became a symbol of the arsenic campaign. The
study concludes that the behavioural change aspects of the arsenic
mitigation project have the potential to significantly improve the
level of understanding about arsenic contamination in the
traditional communities.

[ Abstract at
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubM
ed&list_uids=12582112&dopt=Abstract ]


-----------------------------------------------------------------
2002
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Arsenic in cooked rice in Bangladesh. Bae M, Watanabe C, Inaoka T,
Sekiyama M, Sudo N, Bokul MH, Ohtsuka R. Lancet 2002 Dec
7;360(9348):1839-40

Abstract: In Bangladesh, rice is boiled with an excessive amount of
water, and the water remaining after cooking will be discarded. We
did an on-site experiment to assess the effect of this cooking
method on the amount of arsenic retained in cooked rice. The
concentration of arsenic in cooked rice was higher than that in raw
rice and absorbed water combined, suggesting a chelating effect by
rice grains, or concentration of arsenic because of water
evaporation during cooking, or both. The method of cooking and
water used can affect the amount of arsenic in cooked rice, which
will have implications for the assessment of the health risks of
arsenic.

[Abstract at
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubM
ed&list_uids=12480363&dopt=Abstract ]


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Arsenic in Drinking Water: 2001 Update. Board on Environmental
Studies & Toxicology, National Academy Press. xxvi + 226 pp.
[Update to Arsenic in Drinking Water, 1999.]

"In this report, the NRC [National Research Council]'s Subcommittee
to Update the 1999 Arsenic in Drinking Water Report reviews the
available toxicological, epidemiological, and risk assessment
literature that has been published since the 1999 report. The
subcommittee reviewed data for dose-response assessment and risk
estimation; assessed whether the most recent EPA analysis is
adequate for estimating an effective dose for a 1% response;
determined whether EPA's analysis appropriately considers and
characterizes the available data on the mode of action of arsenic
and the information on dose-response and uncertainties when
assessing the public health impacts; and determined whether EPA's
risk estimates for 3, 5, 10, and 20ug/l of arsenic are consistent
with available scientific information, including information from
new studies." - pp. ix-x.

[Full text of book online at
http://zoom.nap.edu/books/0309076293/html/index.html ]


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Respiratory effects and arsenic contaminated well water in
Bangladesh. Milton AH, Rahman M. Int J Environ Health Res 2002
Jun;12(2):175-9

Abstract: Arsenic in drinking water causes a widespread concern in
Bangladesh, where a major proportion of tube wells is contaminated.
Arsenic ingestion causes skin lesions, which is considered as
definite exposure. A prevalence comparison study of respiratory
effects among subjects with and without arsenic exposure through
drinking water was conducted in Bangladesh. Exposed participants
were recruited through health awareness campaign programs.
Unexposed participants were randomly selected, where tubewells were
not contaminated with arsenic. A total of 169 individuals
participated (44 exposed individuals exhibiting skin lesions; 125
unexposed individuals). The arsenic concentrations ranged from 136
to 1000 micro g l(-1). The information regarding respiratory system
signs and symptoms were also collected and the analyses were
confined to nonsmokers. The crude prevalence ratio for chronic
bronchitis and chronic cough amounted to 2.1 (95% CI 0.7-6.1). The
prevalence ratios for chronic bronchitis increased with increasing
exposure, i.e., 1.0, 1.6, 2.7 and 2.6 using unexposed as the
reference. The prevalence ratios for chronic cough were 1.0, 1.6,
2.7 and 2.6 for the exposure categories, using the same unexposed as
the reference. The dose-response trend was the same (P < 0.1) for
both conditions. These results add to evidence that long-term
ingestion of arsenic exposure can cause respiratory effects.

[Abstract at
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubM
ed&list_uids=12400554&dopt=Abstract ]


-----------------------------------------------------------------
Willingness to pay for arsenic-free, safe drinking water in rural
Bangladesh : methodology and results. Ahmad, J.K. et al, 2002.
Field note / Water and Sanitation Program. New Delhi, India : Water
and Sanitation Program - South Asia. 16 p. : 2 fig., photogr., 4
tab. 12 ref.

Brief description of a study on willingness to pay for arsenic-free,
safe drinking water in rural Bangladesh which investigated the
factors that influence demand for arsenic-free, safe drinking water
and examined preferences regarding household/community-based arsenic
mitigation technologies. The focus of this report is on the design,
particularly the methodology used for estimating willingness to pay
(WTP). The estimates of WTP obtained are presented.

Some key results of the field survey, together with the main
findings and policy recommendations, have been published in a
separate note entitled, 'Fighting arsenic, listening to rural
communities: findings from a study on willingness to pay for arsenic-
free, safe drinking water in rural Bangladesh'.

Full text available online:

1. Willingness to pay for arsenic-free, safe drinking water in
rural Bangladesh - methodology and results. At

http://www.wsp.org/pdfs/sa_arsenic_method.pdf


2 Fighting arsenic, listening to rural communities - findings from
a study on willingness to pay for arsenic-free, safe drinking water
in rural Bangladesh. At

http://www.wsp.org/pdfs/sa_arsenic_learning.pdf



=====================================================================
NEW & NEWLY DISCOVERED WEB SITES & WEB PAGES
UPDATED WEBSITES & WEB PAGES

[None this issue.]


=====================================================================
NEW & NEWLY DISCOVERED REAL WORLD STUFF

Offline-only print publications & newsletters, videos, research in
progress, test kits, removal technologies, etc.

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Suggestions for Preparing a Keratolytic Ointment for Treating
Arsenic Patients

[The following suggestions are provided for thought and discussion.
This is not medical advice and no claim is made by ACIC/ACN, nor by
the authors (whom I have left unindentified intentionally) for the
ointment described here. Before using this or any other treatment
or medicine, you or your organization should get your own medical
advice on your specific situation. In any case, this ointment only
helps to manage the discomfort and cracking associated with
keratosis. It does nothing to treat the cause of the keratosis -
arsenic ingestion - for which provision of arsenic-free water and
food are essential. - Ed.]

Patients suffering from arsenicosis often have keratosis (hardening)
of the palms and / or soles. If cracking occurs, then infection can
get in. Also, hard hands or feet can make it difficult for someone
to work. For these reasons, applying an ointment to make the hands
and feet softer can be very helpful.

During the training course "Arsenic in Bangladesh" at ITN / BUET on
the 19th of May 2002, Dr. Abul Hasnat Milton of the NGO Forum and
Dr. Quamruzzaman of Dhaka Community Hospital each presented a paper
on the health effects of arsenic. They mentioned a keratolytic
ointment of 20% urea and 10 - 20% salicylic acid in cream or
Vaseline.

When we tried to make some for ourselves, we experienced difficulty
in finding out exactly how to go about it. These suggestions are
offered to help others who are not medical professionals in case
they also would like to make some of this ointment.

We decided to make the following mixture:

Urea 20% 500 grams
Salicylic acid 10% 250 grams
Vaseline 70% 1,750 grams
Total weight 100% 2,500 grams

We purchased the urea and salicylic acid in bulk in the Tikatoly
section of Dhaka. There are a number of scientific suppliers in
that area. It is good to "shop around" to see who has the most
recent stock and best prices. We purchased 500 grams of urea (in
granular form) for Taka 400 ex Loba Chemie (Mumbai). We purchased
500 grams of urea (in powder form) for Taka 350 ex Loba Chemie
(Mumbai).

The minimum quantity available was 500 grams. European brands were
also available, but they were double the price. We were told that
the quality of the Indian product was just as good.

We later purchased the Vaseline in bulk from a wholesale market in
the district town near where we were working. It cost only a few
hundred taka. Packaged Vaseline ex the Middle East or Europe in
Dhaka would have been much more expensive. In purchasing Vaseline
locally in bulk supply, it is important to ensure that the Vaseline
is pure.

We then mixed the urea and salicylic acid into the Vaseline in a
clean plastic bucket using a stainless steel spoon. Finally, we
transferred approximately 100 grams of the ointment into 24 small
plastic containers to give to the patients at a village clinic. We
found that the urea did not dissolve totally in the Vaseline. It is
suggested that the urea be ground into powder beforehand for
smoother mixing.

Alternatively, there is a company in Dhaka that probably can both
supply the ingredients and mix them professionally.

BHAM & CO, Chemists & Druggists, bhamco @ hotmail.com, 7,
BangaBandhu
Avenue, Dhaka - 1000. Tel 955-3354

-----------------------------------------------------------------x
Recent CEGIS arsenic work

From Md. Hasan Ali, Cluster Coordinator, Database and IT, Center for
Environmental and Geographic Information Services (CEGIS), House 49
Road 27 Banani, Dhaka (tel 8821570/2 & 8817648/52 x406, email
hali@...):

"Please be informed that CEGIS (formerly EGIS) recently did two
major arsenic activities for UNICEF:

"1) Tubewell location survey and mapping of arsenic contamination
for tubewells of Bhanga Upazila, Faridpur District; Muradnagar
Upazila, Comilla District; and Serajdikhan Upazila of Munshiganj
District.

"2) Arsenic database software development - this is a unique
database to hold arsenic testing results, to generate user query
reports, and to provide for database management activities.

"If you want a summary note or any other information regarding the
above jobs, please contact me."


=====================================================================
PUBLICATION & OTHER DETAILS

+ ACN is published by Sara Bennett from Dhaka. Publication
schedule: irregular.

+ ACN items may be freely reprinted with this attribution: "Source:
ACN Arsenic Crisis News - web http://bicn.com/acic - email acic @
bicn.com"

+ ACIC/ACN encourages all arsenic crisis stakeholders to submit
information by email to acic @ bicn.com

+ Other arsenic information services:

Discussion group at egroups.com -
arsenic-crisis - combines former groups arsenic-source,
arsenic-safewater, and arsenic-medical

Website -
http://www.bicn.com/acic

Includes links to conferences, major media coverage,
research results, individual researchers, projects,
organizations, etc. with site search capability.

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