To anyone interested-

My name is Julian Spallholz. I am trying to work on the human arsenic problem
from the diet side. Are there other people working to prevent arsenicosis this
way? Everything I read is about getting the arsenic out of water and I could not
agree more with that approach.  But the removal problem is so difficult
technically that, for a cost effective program for all people, I believe there
is a simpler solution:  dietary supplements.

Specifically, I believe when arsenic levels are not excessive  people should be
able to consume water moderately contaminated with arsenic if they get enough
selenium and antioxidants. My sudies suggest that the soils in Bangladesh are
poor in selenium. I am looking for collaboration with anyone interested. For
example I think all people in Bangladesh might be mostly protected from
arsenicosis for USD 1 million dollars per year, an almost insignificant expense
compared to remediation of water and future medical treatment for thousands or
millions of people with cancer.

I am interested in hearing from anyone who is interested in these ideas.

Julian Spallholz
Professor, Nutrion and Biochemistry
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, TX, USA

Dear Good People,

It is with increasing sadness that I read the stories of the people of
Bangladesh affected so horribly with arsenic poisoning.  I am sure if this
information was more widespread in my community and others in the wealthy world
there would be some help forthcoming from the wider community.

The reasons for this email are (1) to ask what I as an ordinary Australian
citizen can do to help the plight of these Bangladeshi villagers and (2) to
find out if there is any registered charity or similar organisation set up to
help.  I would very much like to participate in an 'activist' sort of role
(non-scientific) by disseminating information and collecting money.

I have been thinking about some sort of community co-operative business.
The idea being that the villagers make artefacts (clothes, ornaments etc)
and the goods made by them could then be imported into Australia for sale
here.  (A non-profit organisation perhaps).

Does anyone have any ideas and thoughts to help me?

Kind Regards,

Vivienne Hill BSC Hons (Pharm) MPS
PO Box 974
Windsor    NSW    2756
Australia
+612 4574 0709 or 0401 674 392

http://www.heavenscentaromatherapy.com

Arsenic mitigation: what is our responsibility?

It appears to me that the authorities (Government, UN agencies, international
agencies, NGOs, civil society, researchers and scientists, local bodies etc.)
are considering their responsibility in regard to the 'arsenic mitigation' in
affected villages of Bangladesh as just 'screening and labeling the
contaminated wells.'

So far as I have seen, especially in the villages where arsenic was initially
detected several years back, in Chapai Nawabganj, Charghat of Rajshahi,
Sarisabari of Tangail, and the people are badly affected (deaths already had
occurred  and many are with acute symptoms), there is no sign of meaningful
effort to do something more than labeling tube-wells.  Those who have given
some remediation are one-time and meager.

Do the affected people deserve just this?

Can we limit our responsibility to this far?

We may look back to see how villagers traditionally dealt with this issue of
drinking water:

1)      There were dug wells and brick / cement made wells in almost every
household of this region, they had a reasonably efficient and sustainable
supply of drinking water.  There were contaminations, diseases and epidemics on
occasions, especially during floods and dry seasons – they had indigenous ways
to cope with those.  Sometimes they did suffer, but that is what they are
destined with.  This was part of their lives, and they adjusted and evolved
with indigenous knowledge and traditions to face it.


2)      Science and technology helped us to cope with problems in our natural
resource utilization, and tube wells are introduced.  In Bangladesh's
geographical area about 1 million dug wells were replaced during 1960s by
several (4/5?) million tube wells. Dug-wells were abandoned, polluted and
destroyed and the tradition was lost. The people adopted the technology very
rapidly as advocated by the Government, UNICEF, WHO, NGOs, and the civil
society.  This seemed to be a very simple and single resource-based
(renewable natural resource – ground water aquifers) solution.

3)      What the technology introducers did not consider is the interaction
/ effect of this uncontrolled use, and the inter-relations between ground-water
and bed-rock / sediments; physical-chemical effects {hydro-geo-chemical
aspects). There was no such detailed study to forecast the impacts, both short-
term and long-term in this floodplains in relation to massive and continuous
abstraction of ground water.

4)      There was also no monitoring of ground water quality anywhere, many
heavy metals and radicals have been increasing as we now see.  Arsenic became
the one which slow-poisoned millions by only a span of 30/40 years!

Not to lengthen this further, but we all know what rights the people are
supposed to have:

1)   Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) included safe water
2)   Their social and cultural right to get safe water (ICESCR, 1966, Article
      2);
3)   They have their constitutional rights as provided by the State;
4)   The people’s fundamental human right: 'Water is fundamental for life...'
5)   UNICEF’s Declaration on access to safe water
6)   Rights of the Child: on access to safe drinking water (1989)
7)   Rio Declaration; Agenda 21 on water resources
8)   Towards Sustainability: Implementing Agenda 21 , Johannesburg, 2002

We do not want to bring more of these documents supporting the people’s
fundamental and legal rights; the reality here in Bangladesh villages is
entirely different. But we should not forget our obligations so long that it
threatens the sustainability of our society, ecosystem, and our only home, the
Earth. We should remember:

    The State has strong obligations regarding the human rights to water.  The
State has to respect, protect and fulfill human rights.  The obligation to
protect relates to the duty of the state to regulate the behavior of non-state
actors, individuals, groups, and enterprises. The obligation to fulfill is an
obligation for a more positive action to facilitate and provide access to
adequate water for those who do not have it.

    The villagers can not simply afford to adopt the simplest intervention, say
digging a well and going back to their old traditional system because:

- It costs a few thousand Taka, their whole year’s income/expenditure;

- There is no suitable place left in their household to locate the new well

- Materials and experts required to dig are no longer readily available

- Time suitable for this digging is short only 2-3 months in the dry season

- Traditions and indigenous knowledge for protecting surface water and wells
   are eroding fast.

Now it is our  duty to decide what we should do.

M I Zuberi
University of Rajshahi

We read with great interest Zuberi's information/findings from the two
villages, which we are already aware of. We fully sympathize with the
sentiments expressed by the good professor in his concluding remarks.

Since Alcan filter was mentioned in the article, the following
clarifications are in order:

CARE Bangladesh under WATSAN Partnership Project(WPP), as part of WPP
investigations of different arsenic removal methods, had field tested 50
Alcan filters (model-3) in the Chapai Nowabganj area. The effort was entitled
"Action Research on ALCAN Arsenic Removal System, A Study to Explore
Efficiency and Acceptability" by WATSAN PARTNERSHIP PROJECT,
CARE-BANGLADESH JULY 2002

The study observations and recommendations are summarized as follows:

OBSERVATIONS:

- Alcan system is a simple and easy technology for arsenic treatment; it
   requires very little effort to maintain.

- The system could reduce turbidity and make turbid water to transparent water.

- The system can filter approximately 11,500 litres of arsenic contaminated
   water ranging from 0.075 mg/l to 0.312 mg/l, reducing the final arsenic
   level to below the permissible limit.

- The maximum flow rate of the filter was 120 litres/hour and it was
   possible to get 1,000 litres of filtered water per day.

- Most of the users confirmed that they (family of 4-7 members)
   required/used 15-20 litres of treated water each day for drinking and
   cooking purposes. If a family uses 30 liters of water per day for drinking
   and cooking, the system can be used effectively for one year.

- High content of iron in drinking water is a discomfort to people and also
   created some problems. It was found that the filter also has high iron
   removal efficiency from tube well water.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

- Information related to the availability of filter materials at the local
   markets should be disseminated not only among current users of the filter
   but also among those who were interested to use it in future.

- Steps should be taken to create local entrepreneurs for selling the filter
   materials and the assembled ones. After that, steps should be taken to
   establish the bridge between entrepreneurs and the community.

- In view of its high arsenic removal efficiency, massive promotional
   activities in favour of this technology should be undertaken among people
   in arsenic contaminated areas, so that the effected people can benefit.

- In the WPP region too much of iron in drinking water is a problem. So
    there is an advantage in using this filter to remove iron.

Although our filter was found suitable and recommended for use to alleviate
the suffering of the people, unfortunately we were not in a position to
market our filters as recommended to make a sustainable impact in the
mentioned area.  This is because the Government has prohibited field
implementation of any chemical technology [other than in the context of research
/ pilot projects - Moderator.] until it has been certified
through the GOB/BCSIR validation process for chemical technologies.  [As I
understand, BCSIR was recently assigned this responsibility and will not be
able even to begin validation work for another six months - Moderator].

It is indeed ironic that a technology field tested and found to be effective
can not be put to good use for the benefit of the suffering people of the area.
WPP with CARE-Bangladesh has played a very constructive part and should in no
way deserve to be criticized for their efforts.

Best regards,

M. Saber Afzal, CEO
MAGC TECHNOLOGIES
magc @ bdmail.net

This time we visited two arsenic-affected villages in the Northwestern
Bangladesh right in the recent floodplains of the river Ganges, just opposite to
Maldah of West Bengal, India. The villages are Bhatutola and Malipara,
Chhatrajitpur Union, Chapai Nawabganj District.  This district is the worst
affected in this region.

There are about 1200 people (150 families), all members of  many families are
bearing acute symptoms of arsenic poisoning.  I don’t want to bother you with
their sad state and misery – which you have already heard enough!  But I would
like you to know the condition and suggest a way out as many of you are involved
with arsenic research and mitigation.

My information comes from the villagers and from what we saw on January 24
during our visit.  The villages were known to be affected by arsenic
contamination since the last couple of years.  Arsenicosis was reported, water
was tested for arsenic and all the tube-wells were marked ‘red’.  NGOs,
researchers and officials visited the villagers; examined and photographed the
patients; and so on.

For a few weeks water was supplied brought in tanks for drinking to some
families; several filters were provided (Alcan and Shapla types as the villagers
told); some tubes of ointments and capsules were delivered. Then they were left
alone; the filters became choked; vitamins ran out; and the villagers resumed
drinking arsenic water.

We have seen they are using water from ‘red’ tube wells.  They offered us the
same water when we wanted drinking water.  When we mentioned about arsenic, they
said ‘we are drinking this water all the time, but if you drink one glassful,
nothing will happen!’

We formed “Local Groups” and requested the people, especially the women to sit
and discuss what they can do and what we can suggest.  We raise the point
whether they had dug-wells.  They reported that each households had dug-wells
which were abandoned and destroyed when they were asked to use tubewells some
30-40 years back.  We planned to help them to dig wells again and three will be
dug soon, the well digging season traditionally starts in the spring eg. next
Bangla month (Falgun).

We demonstrated how they can reduce arsenic content from contaminated water by
leaving the water overnight and decanting the top two-thirds through folded
clean cloth and rejecting the bottom layer; also by treating contaminated water
with lemon-juice and sunlight, and decanting through layers of cloth.  We also
requested them to take fresh vegetables, fruits with high carotene, meat/animal
protein/vitamin capsules if can afford.

We are trying to provide them with Shapla filters, replacing the active
ingredients of already used filters; and with vitamins and food supplements as
far as we can, through the Local Group.

Now the point is, the villagers did not get sustainable help from any department
or agency or authority.  They said were visited by CARE (Mr. Shahidul and
Ms.Hasina), WATSAN (through local NGOs / activists), and others from Dhaka
University (giving arsenic syrup-D).  Though they got some token remediation, no
one left any name, address, or clue with the villagers who they were, what they
did, or about what was given them to swallow and why.

No alternative source of drinking water was suggested or provided. They have
been continuing drinking very high arsenic-contaminated water.  This is the
general scenario all over Bangladesh!

Is it not obligatory for all of us (donors, policy/decision makers, researchers,
social workers, human right activists, gender activists etc. etc.), to ensure
the supply of safe drinking water on a sustainable basis, beginning
systematically from every corner of the country, adopting diverse methods that
can be adopted immediately.

Screening new tube-wells, standardizing filters, researching alternatives for
future etc definitely should get less priority than saving those whom we know
are already getting poisoned and dying!

Should we not set our priority right at this moment!

Thanking you,

Prof. M I Zuberi, Rajshahi University

This is about further development taking place in Izarapara, the
arsenic-affected village we visited earlier.

IDE Bangladesh came forward with 10 Shapla Filters for arsenic removal.  Last
week Prof. F. Islam and Mr Saad of IDE Dhaka Office visited the village
installing the filters and have discussed their functioning with the villagers.
Our heart-felt thanks to IDE and to Prof Islam & Mr Saad.  The villagers
expressed their gratitude through our student who formed a Local Arsenic
Mitigation Group there.  Dr Alauddin of Wagner college (New York) will monitor
arsenic content.

The fact is that the villagers are too poor to afford bare minimum for survival,
they cannot buy any vitamin/protein rich food/medicines for treatment of
arsenicosis.  We suggested some local fruits/vegetables which are comparatively
cheap.

We would like to keep the Local Group active and are thinking of providing them
with supply of some vitamins/medicines, we have already collected a small fund
for this.Of course this is a temporary step.  We wonder if any pharmaceutical
company or others can provide some of their products as donation or on a soft
loan, so that the Local Group can start a marketing system on a subsidized
basis.  Already one of our group members has suggested this idea.  We are
creating other Local Groups in other affected villages, so we can scale up this
system to provide remediation to the affected people and employ village youth on
a sustainable basis.

We request inputs from all our friends.

Prof M I Zuberi, Rajshahi University

=====================================================================
Arsenic Crisis News
December 2002 / January 2003 V3 N03
=====================================================================

    + Highlights

    + Upcoming Meetings & Conferences
      Updated Conference Webpages & Sites

    + Selected Recent Media Articles Online

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

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

    + New & Newly Discovered Real World Stuff

    + Publication & Other Details


=====================================================================

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.

Long URLs that spill over onto more than one line may *not* work if
clicked on.  To visit these locations, you must cut and paste the
*entire* URL (all lines of it) into the address pane of your browser.

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

=====================================================================
HIGHLIGHTS

Highlights of this issue include:

- Meharg & Rahman find *much* higher levels of arsenic in some
samples of Bangladesh rice (highest was 1.7 ug/g) grown in soils with
elevated arsenic levels from irrigation with arsenic-contaminated
water.  Naidu & Huq find very elevated arsenic levels in samples of a
number of types of Bangladesh vegetable crops (and negligible amounts
in others).

- Harvey et al. present new evidence and arguments that groundwater
withdrawals for irrigation may be contributing to the release of
arsenic to groundwater in Bangladesh aquifers under reducing
conditions

- Rahman et al. compare lab and field test kit results, and find that
field test kits mis-classify as safe/unsafe a significant proportion
of tubewells

- Chakraborti writes about re-visiting Madanpur, an arsenic-affected
village in Murshidabad, West Bengal, ten years on, and finding a
whole new generation of children showing signs of arsenic poisoning,
and many of the children of his last visit now young adults with
serious arsenic illnesses

- The GOB is preparing a national plan to combat arsenic
contamination of groundwater to integrate the efforts of donor
agencies and other organizations.

- NGOs Arsenic Information & Support Unit (NAISU) has web-published
"Arsenic 2002, an overview on arsenic issues in Bangladesh, and an
update of WaterAid's "Arsenic 2000" report.


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

Columbia University SBRP Seminar - Tuesday, February 18th, 2003 at
12:00 pm

The Columbia Superfund Basic Research Program is pleased to sponsor a
talk by Dr. Chris X. Le, Professor and Canada Research Chair,
Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Alberta,
Edmonton, AB., Canada. Dr. Le will be speaking on "Arsenic
speciation, metabolism, and interaction with proteins." The seminar
will be held in Humphrey's Auditorium, Vanderbilt Clinic 14-240,
Columbia University, 622 West 168th Street, NYC. (The easiest route
is to enter Physicians and Surgeons building, 630 W. 168th Street, go
to 14th floor, take a left, and proceed to the Humphreys Auditorium.)
  The rest of the agenda for the February seminar will be announced in
a reminder next month.

The seminar is open to anyone interested in these topics.

Please see our website at http://superfund.ciesin.columbia.edu for
more information on Columbia's Superfund Basic Research Program.

If you have any questions regarding Dr. Le's visit, please contact
Dr. Tom K. Hei, Columbia University, 212-305-8462. For other
inquiries regarding the Columbia SBRP program feel free to contact
either the Division of Environmental Health Sciences of the Mailman
School of Public Health (212-305-3464) or Meredith Golden at CIESIN
(845-365-8968).

Thank you for your continued interest--

Meredith Golden
CIESIN at Columbia University
Geosciences
PO Box 1000, 61 Route 9W
Palisades NY 10964
phone: 845-365-8968
fax: 845-365-8922
email mgolden @ ciesin.columbia.edu


-----------------------------------------------------------------
Papers now online

The papers for "Arsenic in Drinking Water - An International
Conference at Columbia University, New York, 26-27 November 2001" are
now available online.

See http://superfund.ciesin.columbia.edu/reg_frame
set.html?agenda.html&2


=====================================================================
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.


-----------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.nature.com/nsu/021118/021118-11.html
Irrigation taints Bangladeshi rice with arsenic - food, as well as
drinking water contaminated with poison.  22 November 2002.  By Tom
Clarke.  (c) WHO/TDR

Arsenic is getting into rice, Bangladesh's staple crop, through
irrigation water pumped from contaminated soils, researchers have
found.  Another study shows that the act of pumping water for
irrigation can raise its arsenic levels.  The findings worsen the
outlook for Bangladesh's water safety crisis....

Where there were arsenic-tainted irrigation pumps, [Meharg & Rahman]
found high levels of arsenic in soils.  Rice from contaminated
regions, contained dangerous levels of arsenic.  Rice from elsewhere
did not.  Three samples contained more than 1.7 milligrams of arsenic
per kilogram of rice. The maximum safe level for food in Australia
... is one milligram per kilogram.

Rice comprises 73% of a Bangladeshi's caloric intake and arsenic is
in much of the country's groundwater.

Pumping makes a big difference

At one experimental site in Bangladesh, Harvey's team found that
irrigation wells could be compounding the arsenic problem as they
draw water through aquifers.... When water rich in organic matter
flows through aquifers it feeds bacteria; higher levels of arsenic
result, they find.

Eventually pumping could remove arsenic from aquifers if it draws
clean water through. But the finding points to the need to understand
the effect of irrigation pumping on arsenic contamination.
"Hopefully these findings could be useful for future planning of
wells," says Harvey.


-----------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.igb.fraunhofer.de/WWW/Presse/Jahr/2002/
en/PI_Bioadsorber0210.en.html
Technology Update - Bran filters chlorinated hydrocarbons and arsenic
out of waste water.  Source Water And Sanitation Weekly Issue No.
45-47, 25 Nov 2002, reprinted from Alphagallileo, 11 Oct 2002.

Researchers of Fraunhofer IGB together with GUTec mbH have succeeded
in filtering carcinogenic substances out of industrial waste water
with bio-adsorbers using bran. With the aid of the newly developed
system, arsenic can be bound almost completely, apart from 0.004
milligrams per liter, and hexachlorcyclohexane can be bound apart
from 0.13 micrograms per liter. This reduces the concentration far
below the statutory limit values of these pollutants for disposing
waste water. The system is highly flexible as far as the process is
concerned: at 2,5 meters long, 1,3 meters wide and 2 meters high, it
can be used at different locations. It can be operated continuously
fully automatically as well as in batch mode.

Contact: Henrike Henschen, Fraunhofer IGB, tel: +49 711 790 4031,
email
info @ igb.fhg.de.


-----------------------------------------------------------------
At: http://www.sos-arsenic.net/english/toxic-effect/asinfood.html
Arsenic in the food chain.  Bangladesh Observer, 17 Jun 2002.

A study on "Arsenic in groundwater of Bangladesh: Contamination in
the Food Chain" jointly conducted by the Department of Soil, Water
and Environment of Dhaka University and the Common-wealth Scientific
and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) examined a thousand
samples of crops, cereals and vegetables, a thousand samples of soil
and 400 samples of water from 50 upazilas in 15 most affected
regions. These samples were analysed in laboratories within the
country and in Australia.... Dr Ravi Naidu from Australia, the team
leader and Prof S M Imamul Huq of the Department of Soil, Water and
Environment, DU, jointly carried out the research....

"We have detected significant amount of arsenic transferred from
groundwater to crops", says Dr Ravi Naidu, although many crops are
still safe.  The researchers also studied samples of cooked food
collected from the affected areas and found the level of arsenic in
rice was 0.35 mg/kg, 0.81 mg/kg in vegetable curry, 0.33 mg/kg in
spinach, 0.39 mg/kg in fish curry and 0.27 mg/kg in pumpkin....
arsenic was not found in cooked lentil, brinjal and egg...

The highest concentration of arsenic was found in arum, which was 150
mg per kg. The level was 5.1 mg/kg in bean, 20.1 mg/kg in tomato,
0.83 mg/kg to 1.1 mg/kg in papaya, 1.8 to 2.7 mg/kg in cauliflower,
0.05 to 7.2 mg/kg in cabbage, 1.9 to 4.5 mg/kg in leafy vegetables,
red spinach and stalks of spinach, 1 mg/kg in wheat and 5.3 mg/kg of
rice in the affected areas.

...the study showed that potato, bitter gourd, brinjal, snake gourd
(chichinga), kakrol, ladies finger, palwal, large leafy spinach,
pumpkin, sweet potato, turmeric, ginger and green chili are safe as
presence of arsenic in them are insignificant and does not pose a
threat.


-----------------------------------------------------------------
http://web.mit.edu/civenv/html/people/alumni_newsl
etters/winter_02/art5.htm
Search for cleaner water causes major problems with arsenic in
Bangladesh public water supply.  Civil and Environmental Engineering
at MIT, 16(2), Winter 2001-02.


-----------------------------------------------------------------
NEWS FROM BANGLADESH ARTICLES
-----------------------------------------------------------------
http://bicn.com/acic/resources/infobank/nfb/2002-12-30.htm
Nationwide survey on arsenic begins - 30 Dec 02

A nationwide survey on arsenic detection in groundwater has begun
under Bangladesh Arsenic Mitigation and Water Supply Project
(BAMWSP).  Under the three-month project, water samples of 30 lakh
tube-wells in 147 upazilas of the country will be tested. Besides,
arsenic-affected people will also be identified.  The survey has
already been conducted in 42 upazilas and it is expected to be
completed by February next, an official handout said yesterday.  On
completion of the survey, the government will ensure supply of
arsenic-free water in the affected areas.

As part of the programme, the survey teams, equipped with test kits
and leaflets, will create awareness among the people about the danger
of arsenic.

The project is being implemented under the supervision of Local
Government Division and Public Health Engineering Department, the
handout said. - UNB


-----------------------------------------------------------------
http://bicn.com/acic/resources/infobank/nfb/2002-12-26.htm
Nat'l arsenic mitigation plan afoot - 26 Dec 02

For the first time, the government is preparing a national plan to
combat arsenic contamination of groundwater in the country.  Sources
said the national plan is aimed at 'integrating' the efforts of donor
agencies and other organisations in this field and resolving the
arsenic problem in a 'well- coordinated way'.

A group of experts and officials at the Local Government, Rural
Development (LGRD) and Cooperatives Ministry has been formulating the
'umbrella plan' and it is likely to be finalised within a fortnight.
The sources mentioned that so far donors prepared schemes for
mitigating arsenic contamination and the government acted on the
basis of those. But this time the government itself is formulating
the plan.

The need for a national plan was felt as isolated efforts by donors
and other organisations in certain areas of the country to fight
arsenic contamination have not proved so effective. The UNICEF,
DANIDA, UNDP, Swiss Development Corporation and the World Bank have
been working in this field separately.

In such a situation, the LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Abdul Mannan
Bhuiyan initiated formulation of the umbrella plan, sources pointed
out.  Talking to The Daily Star yesterday, Mannan Bhuiyan said, a
'concept paper' has already been pre pared and the national plan now
being finalised would be the first government-formulated one to
resolve arsenic problem. "We will invite all donors, especially those
working in this field, to join us in the fight against arsenic
contamination."

He said the WB and other donor agencies have appreciated the
government initiative and agreed to work under the plan.  The worst
affected areas would be given priority in implementation of the
national plan.  The minister further said the government has also
planned to ensure supply of arsenic-free water through pipeline in
all villages of the country in stages. - The Daily Star


-----------------------------------------------------------------
http://bicn.com/acic/resources/infobank/nfb/2002-12-16.htm
Tk 8.60 cr Japanese grant for arsenic mitigation project - 16 Dec 02

The Government of Japan will provide 184 million yen equivalent to Tk
8.60 crore for a UNICEF-funded arsenic mitigation project in
Bangladesh.  The project is designed to ensure the supply of safe
drinking water to some 2,000 communities directly benefiting some 4
million people.  A memorandum of understanding to this effect was
signed here today (Sunday) at the conference room of Local Government
Division of LGRD Ministry.  State Minister for LGRD Ziaul Haq Zia was
present during the signing of the MOU.  Japanese Ambassador in Dhaka
Jiro Kobayeshi and UNICEF representative in Bangladesh Morten
Giersing signed the agreement, said an official release.

...Ziaul Haq Zia said the grant will help complete the work of
blanket testing, patient identification and provision for safe
drinking water options in 14 upazilas of 8 districts.  The Department
of Public Health Engineering is working to implement the project with
technical assistance from UNICEF.  Referring to two Japanese projects
on arsenic in Bangladesh, Japanese Ambassador Jiro Kobayashi called
for urgent, concerted and coordinated action in this regard.  He
stressed on multi-sectoral approach involving relevant government
ministries, NGOs and development partners to thwart the challenges of
arsenic contamination in groundwater.... - UNB


-----------------------------------------------------------------
http://bicn.com/acic/resources/infobank/nfb/2002-12-14.htm
Irrigation to produce arsenic-tainted rice - 14 Dec 02

The arsenic that has contaminated much of Bangladesh's drinking water
supply is also getting into its rice, according to a new study by
American Chemical Society... [same as BBC article above] - The New
Nation


-----------------------------------------------------------------
http://bicn.com/acic/resources/infobank/nfb/2002-12-12.htm
Arsenic mitigation: 6 projects to be taken under one umbrella - 12
Dec 02

LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan has said the
government will bring six ongoing arsenic mitigation projects under
one umbrella programme.  "There are six projects now being
implemented in the country and it will be easier to coordinate these
if all the projects are brought under one umbrella project," he said.
  The Minister was addressing an awareness building meeting on arsenic
mitigation at Shibpur Upazila Parishad premises in the district on
Wednesday.

...UNICEF is funding arsenic mitigation programmes in country's 45
upazilas. Similar programmes are in progress in 199 upazilas under
the supervision of Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE).
The World Bank, DANIDA, World Vision and other NGOs are funding
similar projects in 223 upazilas.

...[Bhuiyan] praised the role of DPHE as it is doing various works of
arsenic mitigation at a very low cost, almost half of the cost of
other organisations for doing the same.  Bhuiyan said the government
has a plan to supply tap water across the country through pipeline.
He urged the people to use surface water after boiling.

Colin Davis said UNICEF has been working on arsenic mitigation in
Bangladesh since 1996 and tested 300,000 tube-wells of the project
area that identified 200 hot spots. In 1999, some 1.2 million
tube-wells were tested, he said.  "In our next step, we will increase
our effort to provide safe water in the priority areas," Colin said.
He informed that they are going to disclose a research based findings
on food chain early next year, which will identify the foods, should
be avoided for arsenicosis.

UNICEF funded DPHE with cash and technical support of around US$ 10
million so far under "DPHE-UNICEF Community Based Arsenic Mitigation
Project", now under implementation in 25 upazillas. Earlier, they
funded for five upazilas in one phase and 15 other upzilas in another
phase.  Under the same project, 3200 arsenicosis patients were
identified in 20 upazilas.  UNICEF officials said Shibpur is one of
the upazilas where 13,062 tube-wells were tested and arsenic was
found in 460 or 3.52 percent wells.- UNB


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Rising arsenic contamination; community based national programme
suggested  - 11 Dec 02

World Bank (WB) country director Fredrick T Temple yesterday
emphasised formulating a comprehensive community based national
programme to mitigate the rising arsenic contamination in the
country.  Like the success of the Oral Rehydration Saline (ORS)
programme, Temple wanted the arsenic mitigation problem to succeed.

He was exchanging views with local journalists here at Pabna
Community Clinic (PCC) auditorium this afternoon after inaugurating
the eight day long celebration of the clinic's 12th anniversary and
victory day. Correspondents of different national and local dailies
were present at the meeting.

Appreciating PCC activities in detecting arsenic contamination in the
district, Temple also suggested the government consider encouraging
private sector enterprises like the PCC in the mitigation programmes.
  "A community based system as the PCC can serve as the model for fast
solutions to problems ", he opined.

The country representative of WB, however, came down heavily upon the
government's role in arsenic mitigation.  Expressing his
disappointment, he said the government failed to deal with the
problem promptly due to lack of seriousness on their part.  Replying
to a question, the WB country chief said shortcomings of government
programmes and lack of national approach were the causes of poor
results nation wide.  The government could not even formulate a
well-coordinated idea to work with the US $ 32.6 million WB aid on
the arsenic sector.  Last September, the time for framing ideas was
extended up to June next year.  "If the government cannot make good
use of the extended period, WB will be forced to withdraw its aid ".
- The Daily Star


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Tk 6.1m project for arsenic free water in Satkhira - 1 Dec 02

SATKHIRA, Nov 30 (BSS): The Public Health Engineering Department
(PHED) has taken up a programme to install 99 arsenic free Deep
Tubewells (DT) and 78 Pond Sand Filter (PSF) in six upazilas of the
district at a cost of Taka 61,20,621 during the current fiscal year.

Official sources said installation of these DT and PSF will be
started from first week of December and will be completed by June
next to ensure supply of arsenic free pure drinking water to the
rural people of the district. Of the total 29 Deep Tubewells (DT) and
6 Pond Sand Filters (PSF) will be installed in sadar upazila, 5 DT
and 17 PSF will be sunk in Kalaroa, 17 DT and 14 PSF in Tala, 15 DT
and 13 PSF IN Assasuni, 15 DT and 13 PSF in Kaligonj, 18 DT and 15
PSF in Shymnagar upazila.

The PHED has also taken up a programme to test tubewells water to
detect arsenic in five upazilas of the district in the current month.
An official sources said, a total of 41667 tubewells will be brought
under the arsenic testing programme, of them 2252 tubewells in
Assasuni upazila, 3168 in Kaligonj, 31150 in Tala, 1251 in Shymnagar
and 3846 in Sadar upazila.

To detect arsenic in the tubewells water several NGO's with the help
of local upazila PHED started a survey at ward level under the
Bangladesh arsenic mitigation water supply project. PHED put red mark
on the arsenic contaminated tubewells and advised the people not to
drink water from those tubewells. - BSS


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Comprehensive programme to fend off arsenic menace - 23 Nov 02

The government has undertaken a comprehensive programme to mitigate
the arsenic problem and ensure countrywide supply of safe drinking
water, reports BSS. Official sources said the programme has been
taken up in view of the fast growing demand for safe drinking water
due mainly to rapid urbanisation, population growth and increased
public awareness against arsenic contamination of water.

The Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives
through the Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE) is
implementing various projects of this programme both in urban and
rural areas.  Four city corporations, 257 municipalities and all
rural areas are being covered by this programme, Ministry sources
said.

They said safe drinking water is now being supplied in 91
municipalities and city corporation areas while the scheme is under
implementation in 73 municipalities.  Another 94 municipalities will
be covered by the programme soon.  LGED installed 1,210,000 tubewells
for safe drinking water and distributed 3,074,000 low- priced
sanitary latrines in rural areas last year.

At present, 29 projects at a cost of Taka 4.13 billion (413 crore)
have been undertaken and four of them have already been completed
while the remaining 25 are still under implementation, officials
said.  Meanwhile, a total of 18,650 tubewells have been installed
while 70,000 sanitary latrines, 25 deep tubewells, 129.1 kms of
pipeline, five overhead water tanks and three water treatment plants
have been built.  Under the technical assistance projects, water in
14,491 tubewells out of the total 51,001 tested in 411 upazilas of 61
districts were found contaminated by arsenic.

As many as 170 deep tubewells were installed to measure the arsenic
level in the underground water.  As many as 5,516 shallow tubewells
and 679 deep tubewells are being installed while 679
Pond-Sand-Filters are being constructed in the country under the
government initiative.

The government has already constructed two arsenic eradication plants
in Satkhira and Manikganj towns and undertaken a project with own
funds to supply pure drinking water from 4,400 ponds by removing
arsenic and salinity.  Meanwhile, the Action Research Programme has
taken up projects in four upazilas for collection and preservation of
rainwater as an alternative source of pure drinking water.

Besides, DANIDA under its technical assistance programme is carrying
out another such project in 11 upazilas of eight coastal districts,
the sources said.  The government has also undertaken several other
projects in the light of the recommendations made in the
International Conference on Arsenic Mitigation here in January last.
Prime Minister Khaleda Zia inaugurated the conference.

However, the daily supply of pure water in Dhaka city is 1.52 billion
(152 crore) litres now against the demand of 1.60 billion litres.
The total supply was 1.14 billion litres till October last year while
the rest is being provided by the Sayedabad Water Treatment Plant.
This plant was installed at a cost of Taka 5.84 billion, Taka 1.66
billion less than the original allocation, the sources said, adding
its second phase has already been undertaken for implementation at a
cost of Taka 2.65 billion, the sources said.  Chittagong WASA
installed two deep tubewells, two pump houses and completed other
physical construction in the port city at a cost of Taka 1.59 billion
last year.

The Third Interim Water Supply Project and extension of the Mohra
Plant are under process.  Besides, the implementation of the Maduna
Ghat Water Supply Project is in progress, the sources said. - BSS


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NGO Forum operates arsenic project - 16 Nov 02

Nov 15 : NGO Forum along with three other non-government
organisations have been working under a research project in 14
villages of two upazilas of the district since 1999 to find a
sustainable answer to arsenic, a ground water chemical contamination
that have posed a serious threat to public health across the country.

Sources said out of 176 tube-wells in the village 72 have been
detected highly arsenic contaminated and 54 persons as arsenicosis
patients. Forty one percent villagers have somehow become direct
victims of arsenic, said Engineer Dipak Roy, who is working in the
Water and Sanitation Partnership Research Project in the areas.

Engineer Dipak said though they have been conducting a research based
pilot project in 14 villages of Charghat and Bagha, they are now
trying to replicate their already found successes to other affected
villages in the district through advocacy programmes and hardware
supports. He also informed that most of the people have become aware
of the contamination and its subsequent consequences to their lives.
As a result, the people have started drinking waters from rains, dug
wells and ponds through proper system and filtration.

When asked about any problem in drinking rainwater, arsenic affected
Bhanu Begum replied in the negative and said she did not feel any
pathogenic disturbances or dysentery since setting up a rainwater
harvesting plant at her home for last three years. - The Independent


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'Supply safe drinking water' to all people to check arsenic - 9 Nov 02

Speakers at a seminar in the city called Thursday for supplying safe
drinking water to the people of all strata to check water-borne
health hazards, report BSS.  The seminar on "new drinking water
quality management systems that could be applied for arsenic
mitigation" was attended by representatives of the Bangladesh
Government, World Bank (WB), UNICEF, Department of Public Health
Engineering (DPHE) and other concerned agencies interested in arsenic
and water quality.  Held at Dhaka Community Hospital, it was
organised by the AusAID- funded Bangladesh Australia Centre for
Arsenic Mitigation Project.

The new management framework is based on the principles of `Hazard
Analysis' and `Critical Control' points used internationally in the
food industry, and the international quality management system (ISO
9001).  Dr Nadebaum, a Technical Director of Bangladesh-Australia
Centre for Arsenic Mitigation, said, "The new approach uses a
risk-based approach and ensures that the major risks in any water
supply system are identified and controlled at the most appropriate
point in the system. The approach can reduce costly monitoring of
water quality."

The new framework was developed in Australia to provide for best
practice management of drinking water supplies, and the systems are
already in place in some of Australia's water authorities.  Australia
is working in close coordination with the World Health Organisation
(WHO) in this regard. The aim is to apply the principles of this
management approach to the selection and management of appropriate
community-based water supply systems in Bangladesh within the Arsenic
Mitigation Project.

This centre has been established within the Dhaka Community Hospital
as part of the AusAID project.  The centre has programs to determine
the most effective way of addressing the serious groundwater arsenic
problem in Bangladesh.  Dhaka Community Hospital has been
implementing the programs, built on the community health care work,
across the country.  Chairman of the Hospital Trust Dr Quamruzzaman,
said, "The Centre is carrying out important research to determine the
most effective way of providing water free of arsenic to villages
throughout Bangladesh and determining whether residual arsenic in
soils and food crops could be a problem. - BSS


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Leafy vegetables, reduced rice yield may have links with arsenic! - 1
Nov 02

By Monowar Hossain

Leafy vegetables, grown in areas where groundwater is highly
contaminated by arsenic, are feared to have been absorbing the metal,
said experts engaged in framing strategy under the water management
plan.

Simultaneously, substantial reduction in rice yields from what was
expected in the same areas is widely believed to be due to the
presence of arsenic in groundwater in high percentage, they said.
Foreign and international organisations are conducting research to
find out whether and to what extent arsenic is entering the food
chain. A lot will depend on the research findings.

Until the presence or absence of arsenic in food chain is
scientifically established, development of a long-term arsenic
mitigation and nutritional improvement strategies would hang on for
quite a long time, said executives in different wings of the ministry
of health and family welfare.  The groundwater with arsenic at a very
high percentage has rocked the present public health service and
nutritional strategies.

The entry of arsenic in food chain (leafy vegetables, paddy/rice
etc.), if found to be at non- acceptable level, would cause another
blow to the existing public health and nutrition improvement
strategies, they said privately.  Information has it that Bangladesh
water quality standard permits arsenic up to 0.05mg/L, which is five
times higher than the WHO guidelines of 0.01mg/L.  In some places in
the country up to 2.4mg/L of arsenic which is about 250 times the
Bangladeshi standard has been identified by various national and
international health groups, NGOs etc.

Arsenic in high concentration was found in groundwater from hand
tubewells and deep tubewells in many parts of the southwest,
northeast, southeast and along the Ganges river.  Testings of
groundwater from tubewells suggest that people in 60 districts in
Bangladesh might have been affected by arsenic contamination in
various degrees.

The Australian Centre for Irrigation, Agriculture and Research
(ACIAR) is investigating the evidence of arsenic entering the food
chain. The food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) is conducting a
study to determine the possible effects of arsenic on stunting rice
stalks. - The Financial Express


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Rain water harvesting gains ground in Sylhet -23 Oct 02

Oct 22 : Rain water harvesting (RWH) system is gaining ground in
different parts of Sylhet district in recent times. It is gathered
that rain water harvesting plants set up in different parts of the
district have ensured arsenic free water for a large number of people
of the district, particularly in rural areas in recent times. Rain
water harvesting plants have been set up in various parts of the
district with the initiative of NGO Forum, a leading NGO.

This correspondent recently visited different parts of the district
and saw a large number of people using arsenic free water from the
rain water harvesting plants.

" We are greatly benefited by rain water harvesting plants. We have
no fear of being attacked with arsenic contamination", Jhunu Rani Das
(50), a housewife of village Mitrimahal, 16 km off the Sylhet city
under Goainghat upazila, told this correspondent with a happy grin.

"Most of the tube-wells of the district are contaminated with
arsenic. That's why we store rain water for use", said another
housewife of the village. "Arsenic contamination had created panic in
the village and it's surrounding areas. Now that panic is gone", said
another inhabitant of the village. The people of the village store
rain water during the rainy season and use throughout the year. The
water is used for various purposes including drinking. The rural
people heaved a sigh of relief with the introduction of the rain
water harvesting method.

The members of several families stored the rain water through RWH
system and use safe water round the year. Rain water harvesting
system is a new technology which was introduced by NGO Forum with the
inhabitants of the Mitrimahal village in Goainghat upazila in 2000.
At least nine rain water harvesting projects have been set up in
several villages of Goainghat upazila. The users have to pay one
fifth cost for each RWH the rest of the cost is borne by NGO Forum,
some villages told this correspondent. Per RWH plant costs Tk 4,500.
- The Independent


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30m drinking arsenic contaminated water - 14 Oct 02

LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan said in city
Sunday that the real field level services had to be extended with
highest efficiency and effectiveness for mitigation of the miseries
of the arsenic victims of the country, reports BSS.

"There had been enough work for awareness creation but we have even
failed to provide necessary information regarding proper treatment to
the victims of arsenic contamination," he said while speaking at a
roundtable on "Safe Water Supply and Arsenic Mitigation'' organised
by Local Government Division. The minister said the problem of
arsenic contamination had been overplayed.

It is not that grave the way it has been described by many but it has
to be tackled with much more practical approach. The minister
underlined the need for adopting appropriate technology of providing
safe drinking water on priority basis to face the arsenic problem in
a pragmatic way.

The minister told the roundtable that the biggest arsenic mitigation
project funded by World Bank had some defects like non-involvement of
the public health department who are responsible for supplying pure
drinking water. He said the defects are being removed from the
largest project that would be implemented with sincerity and
transparency soon. Bhuiyan said the local experts should be involved
in the research and other works for the mitigation of the arsenic
problems.

The roundtable was told that 30 million people of the country are
drinking arsenic contaminated water from 27 per cent tube wells
across the country. State minister for LGRD and Cooperatives Ziaul
Huq Zia and Local Government Secretary AYBI Siddiqui spoke on the
occasion. Joint Secretary of Local Government Division Syedur Rahman
presented the keynote paper. - BSS


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WB help assured in arsenic-free water supply - 11 Oct 02

World Bank country director Frederic T Temple has assured necessary
assistance in implementing projects for supplying arsenic-free
drinking water through pipeline throughout the country. The assurance
came when he called on LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Abdul Mannan
Bhuiyan at his office in the city Thursday. Besides, Frederic Temple
discussed matters of mutual interests with the Minister during the
meeting. Local Government Secretary AYBI Siddiqui, World Bank
environment expert Paul J Martin and adviser Shubrata Dhar were
present on the occasion, said an official release.- UNB


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Arsenic contaminated tube-well waters create panic - 21 Sep 2002

Sept 20: Arsenic contaminated tube-well waters have created a panic
among the people in all the eight upazilas of the district.

According to Chandpur Public Health Engineering Department (PHED),
about 50.000 people of the district have been attacked with arsenic
related diseases.  The PHED has already started testing the
proportion of arsenic contents in tube-wells waters throughout the
district.  With limited resources, the PHED authority is unable to
tackle this alarming situation....  So far, the PHED authority has
examined about 1000 tube-wells in different areas of the district and
found arsenic contamination in the waters of most of the tube wells.
The PHED authority has so far sealed off about 1000 tube-wells with
red warning signboards.  More tube-wells are likely to be sealed off
very soon.... Tests of arsenic contamination in drinking water at SDC
laboratory of PHED, Dhaka cost Taka 300 to Taka 500, which is
impossible for the general public.

The Executive Engineer of PHED, Chandpur told BSS that steps are
being taken to examine different tube wells in all the eight upazilas
of the district. Due to the arsenic contamination in the tube-wells
water many people are drinking boiled water. - BSS


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Donors not interested in safe water projects: Mannan Bhuiyan - 8 Aug
02

Minister for Rural Development and Cooperatives Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan
yesterday said that the donors were interested in carrying out
experiments and sensitizing people, but they were not much interested
in safe water projects and to pinpoint ways to solve the arsenic
problem.

He said this while speaking at the launching ceremony of the "
Bangladesh State of Arsenic 2001" and "Bangladesh Arsenic Chitra
2001," two publications of the Forum of Environmental Journalists of
Bangladesh (FEJB).

The Minister said "If things go on in this manner, it will require
many more years to find a solution". He said that people were aware
enough about arsenic, but that effective mitigation measures were the
prime need of the hour.... [He] said that safe water was a
fundamental right and that the mere marking of tube wells red and
green would not solve the problem. He added : We have no clear idea
about the treatment of arsenic victims and what measures we can take
to stop the menace.

The Minister said that to provide safe drinking water in the Barind
region the government was planning to introduce deep tube wells in
the area using the existing irrigation infrastructure along with
laying emphasis on increased surface water usage.- The Independent


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Arsenic Poisoning in West Bengal : A Dubious Tradition - 18 Jul 02

Dipankar Chakraborti

Madanpur is a remote village of total population of about 300.
Madanpur is situated in Murshidabad district, at Bhagabangola Block
and under Akhriganj Gram Panchayet.  Murshidabad is one of the most
arsenic affected districts of West Bengal.  Madanpur is one of those
innumerous villages of West Bengal whose importance is its mere
existence.  I traveled with our medical group to Madanpur for an
arsenic survey on 4th February, 1992.  There were no roads leading to
Madanpur. Anybody deciding to go there had to overcome a
pseudo-expedition and had to undertake a laborious trek over dirty
and dust of barren tracks for a duration of about three hours.  We
registered a shocking 150 member with arsenical skin lesion almost
half of their population.  They believed that God's curses and sins
of their previous birth were what were causing the diseases.

I tried to imbibe among them the knowledge that they were suffering
of arsenic toxic substance present in their hand tubewell water. The
only medicine of this disease is water safe to arsenic, fresh fruits
and vegetables. Though meat, fish and egg do help, but, for those
poor villagers they were an ecstasy. I tested tubewells of the
neighboring village and found a few to be free of the harmful
arsenic. I asked the Madanpur people to drink water of those. They
showed dissent over the proposal and most declared that it was
difficult to fetch water from such distance. Madanpur had three
tubewells. On an average those three tubewells pumped up water with
arsenic quantity over 715 m g/l.

Madanpur symbolized the massive toxic power of the arsenic to corrode
out human life. A village senior and arsenic patient pointed towards
his daughter-in-law, proclaimed beauty once, now carried only traces
of that by gone brilliance. The beauty has been devoured by arsenic.
I was surrounded by children. The children all aged between 6 - 11
years and shockingly about 40% of them were arsenic victims with skin
lesions.

Those children shook my stupor. I took a photograph (Photograph-1, at
http://bicn.com/acic/resources/infobank/images/nfb
/nfb-2002-07-18a.jpg ) of that tragic lot. It was printed on the
first page of the souvenir published commemorating the International
conference on arsenic, in Calcutta, February 1995. I spoke to the
government, the newspapers - I attempted to make people aware. Then
gradually the diabolic proportions of arsenic at Madanpur sunk
Lethe-wards in my memory.

10 years later I was again working at Bhagabangola Block of
Murshidabad district. I met many old faces, I missed many of them.
Those seriously ill, previously, have passed away. Those who have
survived were anatomically little better than mere brittle skeletons.
A good proportion has turned decrepit. Many have developed wounds,
which have not healed and are leading to cancer. The diseased
themselves imparted information on a major number of newly infested
villages. Arsenic has attained epidemic stature.

During December 18-22, (2001) and March 1-5, (2002) we made a survey
at a few blocks of Bhagabangola.  To our utter horror, we detected
1947 arsenic patients, 20 probable cancer patients (Photograph-2,
http://bicn.com/acic/resources/infobank/images/nfb
/nfb-2002-07-18b.jpg ) and 70 probable Bowen's disease
[intraepithelial squamous cell carcinoma of the skin] patients.
Murshidabad district's 30,000 tubewell water analysis for arsenic and
patient detecting have placed us face-to-face to a disastrous
statistics, in Murshidabad alone, we expect 10 lakh people consuming
water with arsenic content over 50 microgram per liter (which is the
maximum permissible limit of WHO) and may be 1 lakh have arsenicosis
out of a total 50 lakh population.

On 3rd March, 2002 while working at Najirpur village of Akhriganj
Gram- Panchayet I came across the information about the village
Madanpur again. Initially the thoughts of the prevalent terrible
transportation system declared against my wish to have a visit to the
village. The denizens supplied lots of hope in the tune of
information that now car may go up to Badhpur village and then only a
10-15 minutes walk will get us to Madanpur. We decided to go to the
Madanpur village.

A nostalgia gripped me at the sight of the rural setting of the
village. Madanpur stood unchanged before my eyes. The uneven
landforms, small huts, thatched roofs took me for a trip down the
memory lane. The picture registered 10 years back seemed intact
without even the mildest stain. I searched frantically for that
senior villager I met 10 years before. The villagers informed me that
he was no more but his once beautiful daughter-in-law still was there.

The lady, was now biologically 30 years old, yet, appearance wise,
she looked like a lady of an age almost half a century. Panting with
a baby in her laps, the lady epitomized the decay of the disease over
the last decade. I queried off Guddu, Tony, Babu ... those who were
featured in the once famous picture of the affected children in the
souvenir. The lady replied that some of them who were in working
condition are at their respective work places. Others, relieved of
their working ability have taken shelter into their houses. She also
called on some of them. The boys of the ill-famous picture were now
beyond their youth. In fact they seemed to have lived their entire
life in the 10 years that have slipped through the careless fingers
of time. They were plagued by the cold touch of death. Devoid of
élan- vital they seemed like walking carcasses which the
carrion-eater called arsenic has nibbled up slowly.

But I was surrounded by children who carried prominent signs of
arsenicosis (Photograph-3, at http://bicn.com/acic
/resources/infobank/images/nfb/nfb-2002-07-18c.jpg). I wondered who
they were? Were they the same children that of the photograph? No,
they were a new generation. Yet they shared the same qualities of
those in the picture. I felt that I have walked into the picture,
which I took ten years ago. I felt that time has not moved a step
since then. Rather the tradition of death, as the arsenic has put it
forward, has been continuous. It has successfully overcome the
effects of Chronos.

Though ironic, I incidentally remembered a childhood anecdote from
the feature India (Bharatbarsha) by the famous writer Wazed Ali. The
author once revisited Calcutta after 40 years and to his dismay
discovered a very queer picture. He caught a glimpse of an old
shopkeeper, bespectacled and wearing a vest, reading out the big Epic
Ramayana aloud to his grandchildren who have flocked him. The author
was mesmerized. This scene was familiar to him. He saw it after 40
long years! He felt the rich vein of culture running down the
mega-structure called India. Amused, the author commented, "the
tradition still continues!" Sadly arsenic portrays a similar picture
of unfazed tradition.

Dipankar Chakraborti is Director and Head School of Environmental
Studies
Jadavpur University Kolkata - 700 032 India.  Email dcsoesju @
vsnl.com


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Arsenic A Human Tragedy And Not Just A Newspaper Story - 17 Jul 2002

Sylvia Mortoza

Anew article on arsenic published in the New York Times publicises
the extent of the damage done to people's health but it is not really
telling us anything we don't already know. In fact we at this
newspaper have been constant in our own evaluation of the situation
and have continuously brought our readers up to date on what is
happening where, when and why. We have also provided readers with
information on what measures are being taken to bring relief to the
affected people. Yet despite this, the biggest tragedy to hit us is
still not recognized by potential victims or by those who live in
Dhaka and feel they are safe from harm.

The inability of people to comprehend what they cannot see or
understand is sad. That something they cannot see or taste and comes
from below the ground can possibly do them harm, especially as it
does not seem to affect everyone, is simply beyond their
comprehension. As Dr. Allen H. Smith says, "It seems like nonsense to
people, telling them the water is killing them when it looks so clean
and nice."

Yes it does look so clean and nice and it tastes good too but it
hides its true nature as a killer, but how is anyone going to
convince them that the arsenic in the water is a slow, sadistic
killer. But with Bangladesh in the midst of the "largest mass
poisoning of a population in history," tens of thousands of people
mainly villagers are showing the outward signs of arsenic
poisoning....

Continued at http://bicn.com/acic/resources/infoba
nk/nfb/2002-07-17.htm


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Deep-tubewells for arsenic areas this year - 16 Jul 2002

The government will take up a project to treat surface water for
supplying through pipeline to the arsenic-affected areas of the
country, reports BSS. LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Abdul Mannan
Bhuiyan said this while replying to a question followed by several
supplementaries in the Jatiya Sangsad Monday. Explaining objective of
the project, he said the government had thought of such a project for
supplying pure water to the people in view of the disastrous arsenic
contamination gripping most parts of the country. Earlier, replying
to the main question raised by M Nurul Amin Talukder of BNP
(Netrakona), Bhuiyan said the government would allocate deep tube-
wells to the arsenic-affected upazilas during the current fiscal.

"The allocation of deep tube-wells would be made on availability of
funds from the ADP," he said, adding, the number of such deep
tube-wells would be fixed for each upazila in line with a physical
development programme, which is now being formulated. The
supplementaries were raised by Zainal Abedin Azad (BNP), Mufti
Mohammad Abdus Sattar Akon (Jamaat), Sardar Shakhawat Hossain Bakul
(BNP) and Dr Salek Chowdhury (BNP). The minister said that a
countrywide drive was now underway to ascertain the level of arsenic
contamination in different areas of Bangladesh. - BSS


-----------------------------------------------------------------
http://bicn.com/acic/resources/infobank/nfb/2002-07-14.htm
Water supply thru' pipes in arsenic areas directed - 14 Jul 2002

The LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan directed
Saturday to supply drinking water using pipes from deep tube wells on
priority basis to every household in the country, including the
arsenic affected areas, reports BSS.

He also stressed the need for supply of surface water after proper
purification in the arsenic contaminated areas, an official press
release said. The minister was addressing a presentation meeting on
installation of deep tube wells in the arsenic affected areas in the
conference room of the LGRD and Cooperatives Ministry in the city.

Bhuiyan directed the concerned officials to integrate officials and
employees of the Public Health Engineering Department in installation
of deep tube wells, examination of arsenic, maintenance and other
activities.

Deputy Minister for LGRD and Cooperatives Advocate Ruhul Quddus
Talukdar Dulu, Secretary of the Local Government Division AYBI
Siddiqui were, among others, present on the occasion. - UNB


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

-----------------------------------------------------------------
AusAID, 2002: Arsenic in drinking water in Vietnam.  Draft, March.

Abstract:  The occurrence of arsenic in drinking water sourced from
groundwater is emerging as a problem in Vietnam, and other Mekong
countries. In Bangladesh and West Bengal, arsenic has typically been
found in tubewells at considerable depths. In Vietnam and other
Mekong countries the arsenic occurs in both deep and shallow
groundwater.  The paper canvasses options for addressing the problem
in Vietnam.

Full text at:
http://www.developmentgateway.com.au/pdf/health/ArsenicV.pdf


-----------------------------------------------------------------
Abedin M.J. and Meharg A.A., 2002:  Relative toxicity of arsenite and
arsenate on germination and early seedling growth of rice (Oryza
sativa L.).  Plant and Soil, June, 243(1), pp. 57-66.

[No online abstract found.  Full text is available online to
purchasers and subscribers at: http://www.ingenta.
com/isis/searching/Availability/ingenta?pub=infobi
ke://klu/plso/2002/00000243/00000001/05088022&unc=
1023894747&targetId=1039842369204&WebLogicSession=
Pfq8QdzijNPBtgT3Eito|4861733672597450598/-10528143
29/6/7051/7051/7052/7052/7051/-1 ]


-----------------------------------------------------------------
Alam M.G.M.; Allinson G.; Stagnitti F.; Tanaka A.; Westbrooke M.,
2002:  Arsenic contamination in Bangladesh groundwater: a major
environmental and
social disaster.  International Journal of Environmental Health
Research, 1 September 2002, 12(3), pp. 235-253.


-----------------------------------------------------------------
Anawar, H. M.; Komaki, K.; Akai, J.; Takada, J.; Ishizuka, T.;
Takahashi, T.; Yoshioka, T. and Kato, K., 2002:  Diagenetic control
on arsenic partitioning in sediments of the Meghna River delta,
Bangladesh.  Environmental Geology, Vol. 41 (7), 816-825.


-----------------------------------------------------------------
Anawar, H. M.; Akai, J.; Komaki, K.; Terao, H.; Yoshioka, T.; Toshio
Ishizuka, T.; Safiullah, S.; Kato, K., 2003:  Geochemical occurrence
of arsenic in groundwater of Bangladesh: sources and mobilization
processes. Journal of Geochemical Exploration (in press, online
available by Science Direct).


-----------------------------------------------------------------
DeMarco, M.J., SenGupta, A.K. and Greenleaf, J.E., 2003:  Arsenic
removal using a polymeric/inorganic hybrid sorbent. Water Research
37, 164-176.


-----------------------------------------------------------------
Desesso, John M., 2001:  Teratogen update - inorganic arsenic.
Teratology 63, 170-173.

Abstract:  Background - Inorganic arsenic has been used by many
laboratories to study the pathogenesis of exencephaly in rodents.
These studies, which used predominantly injection exposures, coupled
with the paucity of epidemiology data, resulted in the erroneous
inference that inorganic arsenic should be considered a human
teratogen.

Methods - This study assembles and assesses literature analyses of
older human and animal investigations together with the results of
new experimental studies.  These recent studies were performed
according to modern regulatory guidelines, and relevant exposure
routes (inhalation and ingestion) were used to evaluate the potential
risk of developmental effects in humans.

Results - The existing epidemiological data are inadequate to support
risk assessment because of the failure to confirm or measure arsenic
exposure during early gestation and the deficiencies in accounting
for potential confounding factors. The animal data revealed that
inorganic arsenic caused malformations in offspring only when it was
injected into the veins or peritoneal cavity of pregnant animals
during early gestation.  Exposure via inhalation or oral ingestion,
even at concentrations that were nearly fatal to pregnant females,
caused no arsenic-related malformations.  Conclusions: Inorganic
arsenic poses virtually no danger to developing offspring when
maternal exposure occurs by relevant routes (oral and inhalation) at
concentrations that are likely to be experienced in the environment
or in the workplace.

Rest at:

http://www.teratology.org/updates/64pg170.pdf


-----------------------------------------------------------------
Frisbie, Seth H; Ortega, Richard; Maynard, Donald M; Sarkar,
Bibudhendra, 2002:  The concentrations of arsenic and other toxic
elements in Bangladesh's drinking water.  Environmental Health
Perspectives 110(11), 1147-1153.

Abstract:  For drinking water, the people of Bangladesh used to rely
on surface water, which was often contaminated with bacteria causing
diarrhea, cholera, typhoid, and other life-threatening diseases.  To
reduce the incidences of these diseases, millions of tubewells were
installed in Bangladesh since independence in 1971.  This recent
transition from surface water to groundwater has significantly
reduced deaths from waterborne pathogens; however, new evidence
suggests disease and death from arsenic (As) and other toxic elements
in groundwater are affecting large areas of Bangladesh.  In this
evaluation, the areal and vertical distribution of As and 29 other
inorganic chemicals in groundwater were determined throughout
Bangladesh.  This study of 30 analytes per sample and 112 samples
suggests that the most significant health risk from drinking
Bangladesh's tubewell water is chronic As poisoning.  The As
concentration ranged from < 0.0007 to 0.64 mg/L, with 48% of samples
above the 0.01 mg/L World Health Organization drinking water
guideline.  Furthermore, this study reveals unsafe levels of
manganese (Mn), lead (Pb), nickel (Ni), and chromium (Cr).  Our
survey also suggests that groundwater with unsafe levels of As, Mn,
Pb, Ni, and Cr may extend beyond Bangladesh's border into the four
adjacent and densely populated states in India.  In addition to the
health risks from individual toxins, possible multimetal synergistic
and inhibitory effects are discussed.  Antimony was detected in 98%
of the samples from this study and magnifies the toxic effects of As.
  In contrast, Se and Zn were below our detection limits in large
parts of Bangladesh and prevent the toxic effects of As.


-----------------------------------------------------------------
Habib, M. A.; Miono, S.; Sera, K.; Futatsugawa, S., 2002:  PIXE
[particle induced x-ray emission] analysis of hair in arsenic
pollution, Bangladesh.  International Journal of Pixe, 12(1/2), 19-34.


-----------------------------------------------------------------
Harvey, Charles F., Asish R. Basu, Stein B. Jacobsen, Robert J.
Poreda, Carolyn B. Dowling, and Pradeep K. Aggarwal, 2002:
Groundwater flow in the Ganges delta.  Science May 31; 296: 1563 (in
Technical Comments).  At http://www.sciencemag.org
/cgi/content/full/296/5573/1563a?maxtoshow=&HITS=1
50&hits=150&RESULTFORMAT=&fulltext=arsenic&searchi
d=1042686999665_1152&stored_search=&FIRSTINDEX=0&f
date=1/1/2002&tdate=12/31/2002


  -----------------------------------------------------------------
Harvey, Charles F.; Swartz, Christopher H.; Badruzzaman, A.B.M.;
Keon-Blute, Nicole; Yu, Winston; Ali, M. Ashraf; Jay, Jenny; Beckie,
Roger; Niedan, Volker; Brabander, Daniel; Oates, Peter M.; Ashfaque,
Khandaker N.; Islam, Shafiqul; Hemond, Harold F.; Ahmed, M. Feroze,
2002:  Arsenic mobility and groundwater extraction in Bangladesh,
Science, v. 298, p.1602-1606.

Abstract:  High levels of arsenic in well water are causing
widespread poisoning in Bangladesh.  In a typical aquifer in southern
Bangladesh, chemical data imply that arsenic mobilization is
associated with recent inflow of carbon.  High concentrations of
radiocarbon-young methane indicate that young carbon has driven
recent biogeochemical processes, and irrigation pumping is sufficient
to have drawn water to the depth where dissolved arsenic is at a
maximum.  The results of .field injection of molasses, nitrate, and
low-arsenic water show that organic carbon or its degradation
products may quickly mobilize arsenic, oxidants may lower arsenic
concentrations, and sorption of arsenic is limited by saturation of
aquifer materials.

Full text at:  http://web.mit.edu/civenv/parsonsla
b/HarveySciBangladesh.pdf


-----------------------------------------------------------------
Jain, C. K., and I. Ali, 2000.  Arsenic: occurrence, toxicity and
speciation techniques.  Water Research, 34(17), 4304-4312.  Abstract:
  The occurrence of arsenic in natural water has received significant
attention during recent years. Arsenic exists in the environment in a
number of valency states. The valency state of arsenic plays an
important role for its behavior and toxicity in the aqueous system.
The toxicity and bioavailability of arsenic can only be determined if
all its forms can be identified and quantified. Therefore, the aim of
this article is to provide a general description of the occurrence of
arsenic in the environment, its toxicity, health hazards, and
measurement techniques for speciation analysis. Different techniques
used for speciation of arsenic, viz., spectrometric, chromatographic,
electrochemical, etc. have been discussed.

Abstract online, full text available to subscribers/purchasers, at
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleUR
L&_udi=B6V73-41C2PK6-V&_coverDate=12%2F31%2F2000&_
alid=0&_rdoc=1&_fmt=summary&_orig=search&_qd=1&_cd
i=5831&_sort=d&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVer
sion=0&_userid=10&md5=06181ce4de9a4c50ce5fb2d03895c67b .


-----------------------------------------------------------------
J. Mahata, A. Basu, S. Ghoshal, J.N. Sarkar, A.K. Roy, G. Poddar,
A.K. Nandyb, A. Banerjee, K. Raya, A.T. Natarajan c, R. Nilsson d,
A.K. Giri, 2002:  Chromosomal aberrations and sister chromatid
exchanges in individuals exposed to arsenic through drinking water in
West Bengal, India.  Mutation Research 400559, 1-11.

Abstract:  Arsenic contamination in groundwater has become a
worldwide problem.  Currently an unprecedented number of people in
West Bengal, India and Bangladesh are exposed to the ubiquitous
toxicant via drinking water in exposure levels far exceeding the
maximum recommended limit laid down by WHO.  This arsenic epidemic
has devastated nine districts of West Bengal encompassing an area of
38,865 km2 leading to various clinical manifestations of chronic
arsenicosis.  We conducted a human bio-monitoring study using
chromosomal aberrations (CA) and sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) as
end points to explore the cytogenetic effects of chronic arsenic
toxicity in the population of North 24 Parganas, one of the arsenic
affected districts inWest Bengal.  Study participants included 59
individuals residing in this district where the mean level (±S.E.)
of arsenic in drinking water (ug/l) was 211.70±15.28.  As age
matched controls with similar socio-economic status we selected 36
healthy, asymptomatic individuals residing in two unaffected
districts-Midnapur and Howrah where the mean arsenic content ofwater
(ug/l) was 6.35±0.45.  Exposurewas assessed by standardized
questionnaires and by detecting the levels of arsenic in
drinkingwater, nails, hair and urine samples.  In the exposed group
the mean arsenic concentrations in nails (ug/g), hair (ug/g) and
urine (ug/l) samples were 9.04±0.78, 5.63±0.38 and
140.52±8.82, respectively, which were significantly high (P <
0.01) compared to the corresponding control values of 0.44±0.03,
0.30±0.02 and 5.91±0.49, respectively.  Elevated mean values (P
< 0.01) of the percentage of aberrant cells (8.08%) and SCEs per cell
(7.26) were also observed in the exposed individuals in comparison to
controls (1.96% and 5.95, respectively).  The enhanced rates of CAs
and SCEs among the residents of North 24 Parganas are indicative of
the cytogenetic damage due to long term exposure to arsenic through
consumption of contaminated water.


-----------------------------------------------------------------
Meharg A.A. and Rahman M.M., 2003:  Arsenic contamination of
Bangladesh paddy field soils: implications for rice contribution to
arsenic consumption.  Environ. Sci. Technol., 37 (2), 229 -234.

Abstract:  Arsenic contaminated groundwater is used extensively in
Bangladesh to irrigate the staple food of the region, paddy rice
(Oryza sativa L.).  To determine if this irrigation has led to a
buildup of arsenic levels in paddy fields, and the consequences for
arsenic exposure through rice ingestion, a survey of arsenic levels
in paddy soils and rice grain was undertaken.  Survey of paddy soils
throughout Bangladesh showed that arsenic levels were elevated in
zones where arsenic in groundwater used for irrigation was high, and
where these tube-wells have been in operation for the longest period
of time.  Regression of soil arsenic levels with tube-well age was
significant.  Arsenic levels reached 46 ug g-1 dry weight in the most
affected zone, compared to levels below 10 ug g-1 in areas with low
levels of arsenic in the groundwater.  Arsenic levels in rice grain
from an area of Bangladesh with low levels of arsenic in groundwaters
and in paddy soils showed that levels were typical of other regions
of the world.  Modeling determined, even these typical grain arsenic
levels contributed considerably to arsenic ingestion when drinking
water contained the elevated quantity of 0.1 mg L-1.  Arsenic levels
in rice can be further elevated in rice growing on arsenic
contaminated soils, potentially greatly increasing arsenic exposure
of the Bangladesh population.  Rice grain grown in the regions where
arsenic is building up in the soil had high arsenic concentrations,
with three rice grain samples having levels above 1.7 ug g-1.

Full text at:
http://pubs.acs.org/cgi-bin/article.cgi/esthag/200
3/37/i02/html/es0259842.html


-----------------------------------------------------------------
Mitra, A. K.; Bose, B. K.; Kabir, H.; Das, B. K.; Hussain, M., 2002:
Arsenic-related health problems among hospital patients in southern
Bangladesh.  Journal of Health Population and Nutrition, 20(3),
198-204.  [ICDDR,B researchers]

Abstract:  To assess the health effects of arsenic poisoning and to
determine the relationship among duration and severity of skin
lesions, exposure dose of arsenic, and nutritional status of people,
150 patients attending the Dermatology Outpatients Department of
Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital, Barisal, Bangladesh, were
included in this cross-sectional study.  The study was conducted
during January-December 2000.  Records of patients were collected
prospectively using a pre-tested questionnaire, which included
information on demography, sources of water for drinking and cooking,
duration and amount of drinking-water obtained from shallow
tubewells, clinical presentations, complications, and physical and
laboratory findings.  Water samples from tubewells currently being
used by individual patients were examined.  Nine percent of the
patients were unaware that arsenic-contaminated water causes
diseases.  Due to lack of alternative water supplies, 25% of the
subjects were still drinking water from contaminated tubewells.
About 18% did not complain of any clinical symptoms, except that
their skin lesions were ugly-looking, and 82% had moderate or severe
skin lesions.  Thirty-one percent of the water samples had arsenic
concentrations 10-fold higher than the permissible limit of 0.05 mg/L
in Bangladesh and 50-fold higher than the WHO guideline value of 0.01
mg/L. The mean arsenic concentration in water was significantly
associated with the severity of disease.  Body mass index correlated
inversely (r = -0.298, p = 0.013) with the duration of disease after
controlling for age.  The findings suggest the need to enhance public
awareness on negative health effects of arsenic poisoning in rural
Bangladesh.  From a public-health perspective, effective intervention
strategies need to be developed to curb the exposure, strengthen
rapid diagnostic facilities, establish effective treatment facilities
in rural areas, and improve the nutritional status of people.
[Abstract at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez
/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12430755&dopt=Abstract ]


-----------------------------------------------------------------
Mohammad Mahmudur Rahman, Debapriyo Mukherjee, Mrinalkumar Sengupta,
Uttam Kumar Chowdhury, Diliplodh, Chittaranjanchanda, Shibtoshroy,
Md. Selim, Quazi Quamruzzaman, Abul Hasnat Milton, S. M. Shahidullah,
Md. Tofizurrahman, and Dipankar Chakraborti, 2002. Effectiveness and
reliability of arsenic field testing kits: are the million dollar
screening projects effective or not? Environmental Science &
Technology, 36(24), 5385-5394.

Abstract:  The exposure of millions to arsenic contaminated water
from hand tube wells is a major concern in many Asiatic countries.
Field kits are currently used to classify tube wells as delivering
arsenic below 50 Ìg/L (the recommended limit in developing
countries) as safe, painted green or above 50 Ìg/L, unsafe and
painted red.  More than 1.3 million tube wells in Bangladesh alone
have been tested by field kits. A few million U.S. dollars have
already been spent and millions are waiting for the ongoing projects.
  However, the reliability of the data generated through field kits is
now being questioned.  Samples from 290 wells were tested by field
kits and by a reliable laboratory technique to
ascertain the reliability of field kits.  False negatives were as
high as 68% and false positives up to 35%.  A statistical analysis of
data from 240 and 394 other wells yielded similar rates.  We then
analyzed 2866 samples from previously labeled wells and found 44.9%
mislabeling in the lower range (<50 Ìg/L) although mislabeling was
considerably reduced in the higher range.  Variation of analytical
results due to analysts and replicates were pointed out adopting
analysis of variance (ANOVA) technique.  Millions of dollars are
being spent without scientific validation of the field kit method.
Facts and figures demand improved, environmentally friendly
laboratory techniques to produce reliable data.

Full text at:

http://phys4.harvard.edu/~wilson/ES_and_T.pdf


-----------------------------------------------------------------
Rasul S.B.; Munir A.K.M.; Hossain Z.A.; Khan A.H.; Alauddin M.;
Hussam A., 2002:  Electrochemical measurement and speciation of
inorganic arsenic in groundwater of Bangladesh.  Talanta, 16 August,
58(1), pp. 33-43.


-----------------------------------------------------------------
SenGupta, A.K. and Greenleaf, J.E. (2002). Chapter entitled " Arsenic
in subsurface water: its chemistry and removal" pp265-306 in
Environmental Separation of Heavy Metals (Ed. A. K. SenGupta). Lewis
Publishers, A CRC Press Co., Boca Raton, FL.


-----------------------------------------------------------------
SenGupta, A.K., Gupta, A. and Deb, A. (2001) Arsenic crisis in Indian
subcontinent: local solution to a global problem. Water 21: IWA
Magazine, December, 2001: 34-37.


-----------------------------------------------------------------
USEPA, 2002:  Proven alternatives for aboveground treatment of
arsenic in groundwater.  Engineering Forum Issue Paper.  October.
Available at http://www.clu-in.org/download/techdr
ct/tdarsenic_issue_paper.pdf .  The referring page is
http://clu-in.org/arsenic .


-----------------------------------------------------------------
USEPA, 2002:  Arsenic treatment technologies for solid, waste, and
water.  September.  "The purpose of this report is to provide a
synopsis of the availability, performance, and cost of 13 arsenic
treatment technologies for soil, water, and waste....This report is
intended to be used as a screening tool for arsenic treatment
technologies.  It provides descriptions of the theory, design, and
operation of the technologies; information on commercial availability
and use; performance and cost data, where available; and a discussion
of factors affecting effectiveness and cost.  As a technology
overview document, the information can serve as a starting point for
identifying options for arsenic treatment.  The feasibility of
particular technologies will depend heavily on site-specific factors,
and final treatment and remedy decisions will require further
analysis, expertise, and possibly treatability studies."  Available
at
http://www.clu-in.org/download/techdrct/tdarsenic_report.pdf .  The
referring page is http://clu-in.org/arsenic .


-----------------------------------------------------------------
Yost, L.J., R.A. Schoof, and R. Aucoin. 1998. Intake of inorganic
arsenic in the North American diet. Hum. Ecol. Risk Assess.
4:137-152.


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

-----------------------------------------------------------------
British Geological Survey News Release: Bangladesh claims against the
British Geological Survey.  28 Aug 2002.  At http:
//www.bgs.ac.uk/scripts/news/view_news.cfm?id=116.


-----------------------------------------------------------------
British Geological Survey Briefing: Bangladesh claims against the
British Geological Survey.  14 Aug 2002.  At http:
//www.bgs.ac.uk/scripts/briefings/view_brief.cfm?id=166


-----------------------------------------------------------------
Website & "Arsenic 2002" Report From NGOs Arsenic Information &
Support Unit of the NGO Forum For Drinking Water Supply & Sanitation

"It is our pleasure to inform you that NGOs Arsenic Information &
Support Unit (NAISU) has recently launched a web site
(http://www.naisu.info).  We have also published 'Arsenic 2002, an
overview on arsenic issues in Bangladesh' [an update of WaterAid's
Arsenic 2000] which was an outcome of the integrated efforts of all
relevant organizations working on arsenic has been live up on this
web site. You are most cordially invited to visit the web site.
['Arsenic 2002' is available online at

http://www.naisu.info/final_arsenic_2002.pdf and
http://www.naisu.info/arsenic_2002.htm

"We like to express our utmost gratitude to all who extended their
kind cooperation for the development of the document 'Arsenic 2002'"

"Your any further comments on the document 'Arsenic 2002' will be
highly appreciated."

Dr. Ziaul Hasan Rumi
Technical Specialist
NGOs Arsenic Information & Support Unit (NAISU),
NGO Forum for Drinking Water Supply & Sanitation
Email ziahasan @ ngof.org


-----------------------------------------------------------------
Telefilm on Arsenic Poisoning - Bangladesh

Communication Initiative website, 15 September 2001

Summary:  The Asian Development Bank has given a grant to the
Bangladesh NGO, FEMCOM, to produce a television film to raise
awareness about arsenic poisoning, its symptoms and how it can be
prevented. The project involves production of 5 25-minute episodes of
a telefilm entitled, "Water is Life, Water is Death." The final
product will be broadcast on TV and disseminated to community groups
and NGOs.

Main Communication Strategies:  5 25-minute episodes of a telefilm.
The episodes will show i) how water is tested for arsenic
contamination, ii) alternative sources of safe drinking water, iii)
symptoms of arsenicosis iv) cures for arsenicosis, v) social costs of
arsenicosis, vi) the role of men and women in managing drinking water
supplies, and vii) social support for victims of arsenicosis.

The film is intended for a general audience in Bangladesh and is
presented in the form of a story.  The story begins with a village
girl who was very popular amongst the children because she used to
tale stories about fairies, and ghosts from underground.  A boy of a
neighboring village is smitten with her.  The parents of the boy
propose their marriage.  At the registration of the marriage, the
father of the groom discovers some spots in the bride's hands.
Afterwards the marriage proposal was cancelled.  In the story many
such "cases" come forward and social issues are dealt with.  In the
process, engineers test the water in tube wells, mark the affected
ones in red and the other ones in green, doctors treat patients who
are at the primary stage of the disease, there is discussion and
demonstration of the less expensive local food, nutrition issues,
need for testing the tube wells every six months, and low cost
technology with pitchers and buckets for reducing contamination.

The film has been developed as a story of rural areas like Bangla
movies, not as a documentary or educational video.  The film
incorporates information and messages along the story line.  The film
is in Bangla, with plans for English subtitles - some channels in
India have shown interest as some areas of India are also affected by
arsenic.

Partners:  Asian Development Bank and FEMCOM.  Source Letters from
Bartlet W. Edes (8/12/01) and Ferdousi Sultana (8/15/01) to The
Communication Initiative.

For more information contact: Ferdousi Sultana fsultana @ adb.org OR
Nargis Akhter, Director, FEMCOM femcom @ bangla.net.

At:  http://www.comminit.com/pds9-2001/sld-2998.html


-----------------------------------------------------------------
Household Sand Filtration Construction and Production Guidelines
Website

Medair, a Swiss NGO active in relief and development work, has
recently added technical information on household sand filtration to
their website.

The information includes blueprints, construction guidelines,
material lists and a very detailed photo guide, providing all
information necessary for the fabrication of household level slow
sand filters, as well as the mould necessary for producing these
concrete filters.

Medair has implemented successful sand filter projects in Machakos
District, Kenya and in Mozambique. Preparations are underway for a
similar programme in Madagascar.

In Kenya six local technicians were trained in construction,
maintenance and marketing of the filters. After one year 400 filters
had been sold to rural households. After Medair withdrew its support,
two technicians continued the project. By Jan 2002 they had sold over
1,000 filters and opened 4 new workshops in additional villages.

Web address: http://www.medair.org/MEDAIR%20Sand%2
0Filtration%20Pages/default.htm

Contact: Adriaan Mol, Medair Madagascar adriaan_mol @ hotmail.com or
fortdauphin @ medair.automail.com ; Jitu Patani, Titan Industries,
Nairobi, Kenya, jawaharpatani @ hotmail.com ; Cleo Wiesent-Brandsma,
Consultant, Nairobi, Kenya, brandsma @ iconnect.co.ke


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

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

-----------------------------------------------------------------
BOOK:  Small Community Water Supplies: Technology, People and
Partnership

Edited by Jo Smet and Christine van Wijk

In 1981 IRC first published Small Community Water Supplies and the
book has been a regular bestseller. A large part of its appeal has
been that it is one of the few textbooks to link water supply science
and technology with the specific needs of small communities in
developing countries. This completely revised edition with
contributions from 29 authors from different countries provides a
general introduction to a wide range of technologies. Among the
topics covered are: planning and management of small water supplies,
community water supplies in Central and Eastern European countries,
water quality and quantity, integrated water resources management,
artificial recharge, rainwater harvesting, spring water tapping,
groundwater withdrawal, water lifting, surface water intake, water
treatment, aeration, coagulation and flocculation, sedimentation,
multi-stage filtration, desalination technology, disinfection,
household level water treatment, technologies for arsenic and iron
removal from ground water, and emergency and disaster water supply.

Target audience: Engineers and other staff involved in water supply
programmes and projects, and students

Published with financial support from the Ministry of Housing,
Spatial Planning and the Environment in the Netherlands.

Series: Technical Paper no 40, 585 pages, 270 technical
illustrations, references.  EUR34.

Can be ordered online at http://www.irc.nl/product
s/publications/title.php?id=147


=====================================================================
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 to email 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.

+ SUPPORT ACIC/ACN at no extra cost or effort to you

   Commissions from your purchases automatically go to ACIC when you -

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ome.html/104-2598657-7351167
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15398/702-0164432-5297635

   Buy from Barnes & Noble online through this link:

http://service.bfast.com/bfast/click?bfmid=2181&so
urceid=32390&categoryid=rn_home

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   excellent, friendly customer support, with the
   company that hosts ACIC, WSO.net, using this link:

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+ ACN email newsletter subscribers:  1221 (+128 since the last issue).

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since the last issue).

=====================================================================

Dear all,

There is a 5th International Congress of Turkish Society of Toxicology (IC-TST)
in Antalya-Turkey, from April 24 to 27,2003, the Organising Commity cordially
welcomes the attendance and participation of scientists involved in the field of
toxicology and other.

Saturday, April 26,2003

Symposium 4 is related with ''Carsinogenesis of Heavy Metals'' at 10.30-12.30,
and ''Current advances in arsenic genotoxicity'' will be presented by Hartwig A.
from Germany...

  On Line Registration : www.turktox.org.tr

Congress Secretariat:

Yalçýn Duydu, Ankara University, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Toxicology

06100 Tandoðan, Ankara, Turkey

Tel : +90 312 2126805-2322

Fax: +90 312 2122921

Best regards...

Dear all

Here are three requests for information - I have combined them to reduce the
message traffic to the group.  Please reply directly to the respective authors
(don't use the "reply" button, that sends it to me).  Note that you have to
delete the spaces around the "@", which I inserted to prevent yahoogroups.com
from deleting the email addresses ;-).

I hope to be preparing the newsletter next week - if you have publications,
events, etc to announce, please email me the information ASAP.

Regards

Sara Bennett
Moderator

--------------------------------------

From: Sakunthala Ranasinghe <sakur @ pdn.ac.lk>
Date: Tue Jan 7, 2003 0:39pm
Subject: Arsenic using laterite

I am a post graduate student in the University of Peradeniy, Sri anka and doing
research in the Environmental Engineering field.  I need details regarding
arsenic removal using laterite. If you all have any information, please let me
know.

Sakunthala Ranasinghe

--------------------------------------

From: Moshahida Sultana <ritusultana @ yahoo.com>
Date: Fri Jan 10, 2003 11:07pm
Subject: Arsenic crisis and employment

I am a young researcher in the field of water and sanitation. Arsenic crisis is
one of the areas that I would like to know more about.

As I am not able to visit an arsenic-affected region in person, some emails on
the recent scenario have helped me to figure out the acuteness of the problems.

I am mainly interested in knowing how community participation can
help to mitigate the Arsenic crisis. If anybody who has gone to the field is
interested in answering my questions, it will be of great help to me.

1) How can the availability of medicine can be solved?  Is there any way of
employing local people who can make it a business (subsidized)? Is it possible
to ensure the availability of medicine not by bringing one month supply but by
engaging the local community?

2) What are the alternative sources of water for them other than groundwater?

3) To make rainwater harvesting and other source of water popular what can be
done? Is it possible to make it their own business in the community?

4) Instead of supplying medicine and growing their dependency on outside people,
is there anything that the community can do? What are the main barriers?

Moshahida Sultana

--------------------------------------

From: "Abhijit Mukherjee" <tutun23 @ rediffmail.com>
Date: Sat Jan 11, 2003 2:04am
Subject: Groundwater data

I am a researcher in the field of contaminant hydrogeochemistry. I am studying
the arsenic crisis of the Bengal Delta. But  I could not find out some required
information after lot of effort. If anyone of you have them or could tell me
where I can find/procure them, it will be really helpful for me.

1) Data on groundwater flow and chemistry in the lower Bengal delta (Maldah to
Sunderban of West Bengal, India)

2) The disposition of deep tubewells in the above mentioned area

Thanks

Abhijit Mukherjee

Re:  Zuberi's post of 10 Jan 03 - #23 at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/arsenic-crisis/message/23

Zuberi suggests that good nutrition reduces the effect of  toxicity.  That seems
very reasonable.  Indeed sufficiently reasonable that I would recommend action
on acheieving good nutrition for this and other reasons.

But although it is likely to be true,  I think that most of the evidence is
either anecdotal or indirect evidence from other situations and other chemicals.
I would like to see the conjectures proven.

I am asking whether there are any studies that I have missed so that we may all
highlight them on our arsenic websites?   I note that performing such studies is
not easy, and it is one of the major planks of the Harvard - MIT program. 
Professor David Christiani of Harvard School of Public Health and Harvard
Medical school is working with Dhaka Community  Hospital on one such study.   
He will be at the DCH meeting on 14-15 January 2003.

Richard Wilson
http://phys4.harvard.edu/~wilson/arsenic_project_introduction.html
or use the shortcut http://arsenic.ws

The village people in Bangladesh are readily affected by arsenic toxicity from
the contaminated ground water for many reasons.  One is their poor health and
nutritional status.

Arsenic consumed may be quickly excreted from the body through methylation
(often termed as detoxification) in the body through mostly urine.  But this
methylation reaction needs methyl donors coming from food sources and it
competes with normal metabolic processes.

Thus, if body system has enough supply of certain nutrient components like
methionine, the toxic effects of arsenic are much reduced.

On the other hand, in malnourished bodies and those consuming poor diet, arsenic
toxicity is rapidly developing and magnified, as in in case of the poor
villagers of Bangladesh especially women, mothers, young rapidly growing
children and physically active labourers.

It is also demonstrated in recent research that those living in developed
countries consuming good food are not affected by arsenic toxicity like the
people of the LDCs.

So arsenic-affected people in Bangladesh are being asked to consume more
balanced and certain types of food like methionine-rich food and green
vegetables.

There are certain indigenous plants and local vegetables which are rich in
methionine and other relevant nutrients.  Some go for Spirulina an algae.

Water consumption pattern are also asked to be changed.  People are asked to
drink water in small amounts at a time, with some food; and to go for
arsenic-free water. This is in short our "food therapy".

Please ask for more details if you wish to have.

M I Zuberi
Rajshahi University

In a previous email [#16 on 1 Jan 2003], I described a visit in mid-Dec 2002 to
an arsenic-affected village in central Bangladesh (Sharisabari, Tangail). 
Several members responded with useful suggestions. We thank them all.

I re-visited this village on the 1st January, 2003, with my student who is a
member of that village and Dr Alauddin, a member of the Faculty of Wagner
College, New York (USA), an analytical chemist.

We had the results of arsenic tests of water samples collected from 8 tube wells
of the village, four of which are highly contaminated ( 304, 270, 226 and 107
ug/l ) and three with low (two <2.0 and one 8.6 ug/l) .

We left Dhaka very early on the New Year’s Day and reached the village at 11 AM.
We found the scenario very painstaking, we had to establish rapport with the
cold villagers and win their confidence.  They understood that we are not one of
those on-lookers and snap-takers.  We spent the whole day, discussing their
living condition and what can be done for alleviation of their sufferings.

The following points emerged:

1.  Most of the villagers are very poor, day laborers, small farmers; ill-health
and arsenic symptoms are common.  All adults showed us limbs, trunk with spots
and warts;

2. Three villagers were getting medicine and one undergone operation in the
Dhaka Community Hospital.  They could not get any regular supply of medicine
(vitamins) for they have to travel to Dhaka (spending Tk 50 [about USD 1]
one-way bus-fare plus loss of 3 days work.

3. They requested one month’s supply or delivery of the medicine (vitamins) from
local hospital to save travel expenses and wages.

4.  They wanted safe water supply.  We suggested helping them to have two
dug-wells in their locality but they are more interested in arsenic filter.

5.  We wanted to buy five filters for them from Dhaka and we already have
arranged the money, but filters are not available so Dr Alauddin could not have
them with us to be delivered during our visit.

6.  We located the tube-wells with no arsenic and asked them to drink water from
those and we also located the contaminated wells and asked them not to drink
water from those.

7.  We had conversation with women freely, they came forward spontaneously and
we pointed out to them that they are managers of water and it is their duty to
serve safe water to their children and family members.

8.  We left some money with our student to help with recommended food, vitamins,
and to form the Local Group who will organize and keep in touch.

We returned Dhaka at around 9 PM. Dr Alauddin promised that before leaving
Bangladesh he will contact with those who can provide filters and arrange to
have at least five for the villagers.

M.I. Zuberi, Rajshahi University, Bangladesh

Dear Baran Mohammadi,

The arsenic filter developed by Prof. Islam is known as the "Shapla" filter.
Prof Islam is a professor of chemistry at Rajshahi University in Bangladesh.
Although he made his announcement of the filter at the Arsenic Conference in San
Diego, USA, in 2002, he remains based in Bangladesh.

The filter itself is based mainly on the principle of adsorption. It consists of
a medium with a high internal surface area, providing a large number of
adsorption sites. The Shapla uses brick "dust" (a by-product of local brick
production which is easily and cheaply available), soaked in a solution of
ferrous sulphate. Once soaked the media is heated and washed, and is then ready
for use.

The filter itself consists of a container for the media, placed on a stand. The
water to be treated is poured in the top, and then withdrawn at the bottom with
a tap.

So far, only limited numbers have been produced, although production is
increasing.

Pilot units installed by Unicef indicate that one charge of media (20 kg.) can
treat approximately 3,000 liters of water, although details depend on the inflow
arsenic concentration and the presence of competing ions (esp. phosphate).

When phosphate concentrations are high (which is the case in some areas of
Bangladesh) pre-treatment (e.g. with ferrous sulphate...) is advisable. People
like the water produced from the filter; it not only removes arsenic, but iron
as well. Since almost all groundwater in Bangladesh has a high iron
concentration, this is much appreciated by the users.

Bacteriological quality does not deteriorate, and no FC colonies seem to grow in
the media (even if contaminated source water is poured in). The flow rate is
quite low, and users would like to see that increase. Tests are currently
underway to determine the maximum flowrate that still provides adequate arsenic
removal.

The media can be produced locally for about $3.00 a bag (including distribution
and profit for the reseller) while the complete filter costs about $7.00. A
potential drawback is the weight of the media, combined with the fact that an
average family would need about 2-3 bags a year. To prevent transport costs from
increasing the overall costs of the media too much, production facilities should
be decentralized as much as possible. A small facility can be set up for about
$10,000.

In Bangladesh, the development of the Shapla is being supported by International
Development enterprises (IDE). you can contact them at the following address:

Mr. David Nunley
Director
IDE Bangladesh
dbnunley @ agni.com

Best regards,

Jan Willem Rosenboom
Arsenic Team
Unicef Bangladesh

I am involved in the electrochemical removal of arsenic from drinking water. I
am interested to do collaborative work.

If anyone in interested, please contact me.

DR. S.Vasudevan
Scientist
Electrorganics
Central Electrochemical Research Institute
Karaikudi - 630 006
INDIA

Please help. I need some data on arsenic situation in Myanmar.

Thanks.

Marzar
marzar @ bol-online.com

I am a student of chemistry in one of the universities in Iran.

I am researching about the effects of arsenic in drinking water.

I want some information about the recent arsenic removal filter designed by
Prof. Fajr Islam in USA, can you please help me?

Sincerely yours,

Baran Mohammadi
baran_chemist @ yahoo.com

In connection with the mail of Dr M I Zuberi, I have two suggestions:

1. It would be useful to know the exact concentrations of Arsenic, which have
resulted serious health hazard and even death.

2. The practice of local people to test for arsenic with leaves of the guava
tree may not be appropriate. The idea should not be propagated prior to
scientific testing.

It *is* however a practical, readily available method to find dissolved iron.  I
also used it, while sinking tubewells for fish seed farms in Bangladesh, to
estimate the amount of dissolved iron.  I found that the color of water changes
to blackish only when iron is present at more than 1.0 mg/liter concentrations. 
I believe that this is due to a reaction of iron with the tannic acid present in
the leaves.

Toxic arsenic levels are starting from 0.05 mg/l concentrations [or even lower -
moderator].  Although arsenic and iron sometimes occur together, it is not at
all sure that toxic levels of dissolved arsenic can be detected by use of guava
leaves.

Francois Rajts
Genetic Diversity Specialist
Aquatic Resources Development, Management and Conservation Studies
under the Fourth Fisheries Project
Project Office: Sena Kalyan Bhaban (7th Floor)
195 Motijheel C/A, GPO Box 2608
Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh

Tel: +880 2 955 2149
Fax: +880 2 956 5127
Email: rajts @ gef-fish.com
Website: http://www.gef-fish.com/

Arsenic in groundwater of Bangladesh: a case of a village

A member of the Arsenic Mitigation Group (AMGRU) of Rajshahi University, a
student of final year B. Sc., has visited his village on the 2nd week of
December 2002. As a member of the group since last few months, he has become
aware of the arsenic problem and so this visit to his own village became a very
different one. What he observed and reported to us about his own village this
time is given below:

His village is Izarapara and the neighboring village is Gibindanagar in the
Upazila of Sarishabari of District Jamalpur of the central Bangladesh. The
district is widely affected by arsenic contamination. These two villages are
classed as large village with 3000 to 4000 inhabitants. The student examined the
members of 10 families and most are identified as affected with Arsenic
poisoning – with spots, warts and ulcerations. One member had ulcer in limb, was
amputated and ultimately died.

The villagers of Izarapara used to drink water from six (6) hand-tubewells,
which were tested by the local Department of Public Health and Engineering
(DPHE) sometimes in 2001 and found them highly contaminated with arsenic. They
labeled and sealed some of these tube wells, the villagers resunk four of these
contaminated tube wells to greater depth; DPHE planned to sink one to 300 feet
deep but only able to sink up to 265 feet because of hard rock below. All these
newly sunk tubewells when tested again for arsenic by the DPHE were still found
to contain higher levels of arsenic than the recommended level. The DPHE asked
not to drink water from the tube wells and left.

Without any alternative source, the villagers are using the contaminated water
till today. They have no filter or any other way to get arsenic-free drinking
water! The villagers also narrated how a Japanese team visited their village,
examined water and the affected people and also asked them not to drink water
from those tubewells. Some villagers also reported that they were promised help
but nothing arrived. The student especially mentioned that Mr. Mojnu Miah son of
Nilu Khan and Mr. Ohab Ali son of Hosen Ali Khan both of Izarapara have
arsenic-poisoning symptoms all over their body, and the uncle of Mojnu Miah died
after amputation of limbs in 1999. The villagers reported to have these symptoms
for several years not knowing that these are due to arsenic in drinking water.
Almost all members of these families above 18 to 20 years age are bearing
symptoms and are suffering.

The student also reported that the villagers use a test for arsenic contaminated
water by mixing paste of guava leaves with the water sample to be tested.
Arsenic contaminated water when mixed with guava leaf paste, changes color
quickly but arsenic-free water does not.  This is due actually to the reaction
of phenol in leaves and iron in water.

The student reported that the villagers are very depressed and angry due to the
addition of this unexpected disaster and suffering to already burdened life of
the poor!  We plan to help the villagers to get filters for removing arsenic.
Other sources of arsenic-free water are being arranged. The affected people will
have treatment and food-therapy to alleviate arsenic toxicity. We plan to visit
the village this week to form an Arsenic Mitigation Group in the locality.

This is a picture, I am afraid, to be found in numerous villages of Bangladesh.

The name of the student, a member of Arsenic Mitigation Group, is M. Moinul
Kabir Masud, a 4th year student of the University.

Dr M I Zuberi
University of Rajshahi
Bangladesh
28/12/02

Arsenic Crisis Group,

After receiving the response to my earlier mail, I have decided to post a brief
summary of our  findings in course of our work for the last three years. I am
enclosing an abstract of a paper which has been accepted for presentation in the
NESDA conference to be held at Dhaka in January 2003.

PATTERN OF DISTRIBUTION OF ARSENIC CONTAMINATED GROUNDWATER IN THE DELTA REGION
OF WEST BENGAL AND ITS CAUSES

S. Sengupta, P.K. Mukherji and D.K. Bhattacharya

Geological Survey of India, Kolkata, India

Incidence of Arsenic above the prescribed safe level (>0.05mg/L) in groundwater
has been reported from villages of 74 blocks in WestBengal. All the reported
localities, except two, lie east of the Hooghly River, in an area of
approximately 17,000 sq.km and an east-west strip from the river up to the
border of Bangladesh has been mapped in Nadia and 24-Parganas districts. The
high-arsenic ground water zones are found to occur as narrow, linear, sinuous
strips exactly following the geometry of the abandoned drainage channels of the
distributaries of the Ganga-Padma river system coursing through the area. The
shallow aquifer along these strips is constituted of medium to fine grained sand
formed as channel deposits. Such zones cover approximately twenty percent of the
total area. The remaining eighty percent is the flood plane of the same drainage
system, where the shallow aquifer is topped by a clay blanket.  Groundwater from
this entire area contains arsenic below 0.05mg/L. T

The geomorphology being the same and the stated pattern being consistent over a
large area, prediction of high-arsenic groundwater zones become possible in the
remaining part of the delta, falling in West Bengal and Bangladesh, following
the same principle.

Domestic tube wells (40 to 200 feet deep) from juxtaposed ancient channel and
floodplain domains have been monitored for the last four years. It is observed
that the safe water in floodplain domain is never contaminated by high-arsenic
water in channel domain, even when the tube wells are only fifty feet apart.
Laboratory studies reveal that arsenic is contained in iron silicate and iron
oxide minerals, which constitute a minor proportion of the aquifer sediments,
whenever micron size, spheroidal siderite blisters have grown on them. It is
inferred that arsenic dissolved in groundwater is adsorbed on the secondary
siderite growth during their formation on silicates and oxides, which contribute
the required iron. Most of the arsenic in the environment being in particulate
form,is unlikely to migrate from one part of the aquifer to another and thus
consequent contamination is absent. For the same reason arsenic in water can be
easily removed by using domestic filters.

Formation of the siderite and consequent removal of arsenic from groundwater is
caused by an organic process. Bacteria has been recovered from the interior of
the siderite concretions and cultured in the laboratory. They have been
identified as  B. flexus B. halmaplus; B.megaterium; B. cohnii. It is suggested
that these bacteria are unable to tolerate arsenic toxicity beyond certain
limit. When groundwater contains higher arsenic, bacteria builds up a protective
armor of siderite around the colony. The inferred chemical reactions are as
follows:

As3+® As5+ + 2e; Fe3+ + 1e = Fe2+; Fe2+ + CO32- = FeCO3 (Siderite).
The siderite forms on the surface of minerals and adsorbs the less soluble and
less toxic penta-valent arsenic. The extra electron is used by the bacteria.

Hi all,

I would like to introduce myself.  I am a doctor obtaining my medical graduation
in 1998 and have been working on arsenic for last three years.  Currently I have
been working in "NGOs Arsenic Information & Support Unit", NGO Forum for
Drinking Water Supply & Sanitation.

Currently we have developed an updated document "Arsenic 2002" which is
available in our website (http://www.naisu.info) of NAISU. [Document available
as HTML at:

http://www.naisu.info/arsenic_2002.htm

As .pdf at:

http://www.naisu.info/final%20arsenic2002.pdf  ]

I like to invite all of you to visit our website. Your comments and
recommendation will make the document more meaningful.

Wishing all of you the best,

Dr. Ziaul Hasan Rumi
Technical Specialist,
NGOs Arsenic Information & Support Unit (NAISU)
NGO Forum for DWSS,
11/3, Block-E, Lalmatia, Dhaka - 1207

Myself S.Sengupta and three others (P.K.Mukherji, D. Bhattacharya and Amit Ray)
are working in a team in Geological Survey of India, which is investigating
several aspects of the arsenic contamination in localities of West Bengal Delta.
I came to know of the group through a message from Lemiere Bruno handed over to
me by one of the recipients.

We have been working on the problem for the last four years and want to
communicate our understanding on the subject to other people interested and
working on the problem. We hope that it will give us an opportunity to get
interpretations from our data critically reviewed.

Studies on the mineralogy of the aquifers have helped us identify that only Iron
oxide and Iron silicate minerals are the hosts for arsenic in the sediments. 
Micron size blister like growth of carbonate concretions are photographed on the
surface of these hosts. The se carbonate surface growth is inferred to adsorb
the arsenic. These concretions are of bacterial origin. The bacteria have been
identified and cultured in the laboratory.

Subhasish Sengupta

From: Andree Desiree Wilson and Richard Wilson
[mailto:wilson5@...]
Sent: 25 November 2002 3:53 AM
To: arsenic-crisis-owner@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: MIT Arsenic Website Re: [arsenic-crisis] Arsenic removal
filters & their principles

Note that this [ http://web.mit.edu/murcott/www/arsenic/index.html ] is
Susan Murcott's website not the MIT website.    Charles Harvey and Harry
Hemond for example are not associated with it.

Try the MIT Arsenic Website at

http://web.mit.edu/murcott/www/arsenic/index.html

M. Khaliquzzaman
Tel: (8802) 966-9301x319
Fax: 88-02-861-3220
EM: dkhaliquzzaman @ worldbank.org
Consultant
Environment Team
The World Bank
3A Paribagh, Dhaka-1000,
Bangladesh

Dear Friends,

      I am a member of this group and am an M.Tech. student of Applied Geology in
the Deptt. of Geology and Geophysics, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur,
India.

      Presently I am doing my M.Tech. project on the arsenic contamination and
its mitigation in the groundwater of the Purbasthali-II block, Dist.- Bardhaman,
West Bengal, India (Bengal Basin). I want the information of the arsenic removal
filters and their principles (if possible) which are cost effective and
economically feasible to the poor villagers of that Block. If we get any
financial assistance from the W.B. State Govt.then we may propose and impliment
some costlier filters in that block to serve the total village community of a
village as the block contains of 90 villages where 40 villages have been
affected seriously (max.conc. of As 20.86 mg/l and min. conc. 2.529 mg/l done by
AAS method, University of Calcutta).

      I shall gleefully welcome any constructive idea or theory behind the reason
of As contamination in this Basin besides the theory of the transportation of
the arsenopyrite grains by R. Bhagirathi from Rajmahal Basalt Trap to this area
or the most advance principle behind this theory till date. I have browsed
through some yahoo arsenic related sites and have watched the battle of letters
between the eminent scientists and acamedicians and now very much confused as
there are different schools of thought behind this cause and you cannot discard
their theories also. So friends help me in selecting the right path.

      I am sending three pictures (may be not so pleasant to your eye) of the As
victims which I have taken during my fieldwork in that area with this mail so
that you can understand the magnitude of the threat. [attachments removed -
moderator]

      So friends please try to solve out my problem as early as possible.

      Thanking you all for spending your valuable time behind my mail.

      I will be waiting eagerly for your reply. You may send me concerned web
site addresses also.

Your friend,

ANINDYA RANJAN GHOSH

I.I.T. KHARAGPUR, INDIA

e-mail IDs

ranjan_anindya @ yahoo.com

anindyaranjan @ rediffmail.com

aniranghosh61275 @ indiatimes.com

From: Sarah Houghton [mailto:s.houghton@...]
Sent: November 8, 2002 4:40 PM
To: arsenic-crisis-owner; arsenic-source; arsenic-medical;
arsenic-source; arsenic-safewater
Subject: London Arsenic Group - change of web address

Dear colleagues,

Due to a renaming of our department here @ UCL to Earth Sciences the
location of the London Arsenic Groups web presence has also changed. Please
update your bookmarks accordingly:

The London Arsenic Group: http://www.earthsci.ucl.ac.uk/research/lag/as/

Regards
Sarah Houghton
-------------------------------------------------------------------
LAG Webmaster & Experimental Officer
Wolfson Laboratory for Environmental Geochemistry
Department of Earth Sciences
UCL (University College London)
Gower Street
London
WC1E 6BT

Tel: 020-76792373
Fax: 020-73871612
-------------------------------------------------------------------
THE WOLFSON LABORATORY FOR ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY:
http://www.earthsci.ucl.ac.uk/research/geochemistry/wolfsonlab-envgeochem/
-------------------------------------------------------------------
The London Arsenic Group http://www.earthsci.ucl.ac.uk/research/lag/as/
-------------------------------------------------------------------

=====================================================================
Arsenic Crisis News
October-November 2002 V3 N02
=====================================================================

    + This Issue of ACN

    + Feature Article:

      ** Online Database of Arsenic Remediation Technologies at MIT

    + Letters From Subscribers

    + Tenders & Vacancies

    + Upcoming Meetings & Conferences
      Updated Conference Webpages & Sites

    + Selected Recent Media Articles Online

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

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

    + New & Newly Discovered Real World Stuff

    + Publication & Other Details


=====================================================================
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.

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

=====================================================================
THIS ISSUE OF ACN

This issue, like the last one, is very long as I am still catching up
from my long hiatus last year.  Much of it is recent media articles,
plus News From Bangladesh articles going back to March 2002.  My
apologies, but after this the newsletter should be back to its more
usual <10 pages.

The new arsenic-crisis group is up and running with about 1100
subscribers merged from the four previous groups.  Thanks to all of you
who have posted information to arsenic-crisis.  It seems to be getting
off to a great start, and there seems to be a lot going on that is of
interest to the whole arsenic crisis community.

Bear with me as I figure out how to moderate arsenic-crisis.  On the
one hand, it would be great to have an active, lively group.  On the
other, too-frequent posts and posts that don't convey much information
eg consisting only of a single, simple question or comment, are
probably a turn-off for many subscribers.  I also find I am reluctant
to post messages that are essentially product announcements (for
arsenic removal products, test kits, etc.)

So I am experimenting with answering some posts privately or referring
them another subscriber who can; and incorporating some posts (eg
product announcements) into the newsletter.  If you have any thoughts
on this process, let me know.


=====================================================================
FEATURE ARTICLE

http://web.mit.edu/murcott/www/arsenic/index.html

Online Database of Arsenic Remediation Technologies at MIT

This excellent web site at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
(project leader Susan Murcott) provides an online database of arsenic
remediation technologies.  It covers both arsenic removal and provision
of alternative safe water supplies.  There is an excellent overview
page that categorizes technologies into nine groups - oxidation,
coagulation/precipitation, sedimentation, filtration, adsorption, ion
exchange, membrane/reverse osmosis, biological, and other - and
describes how each category works.  The database itself currently
documents 44 individual technologies eg SORAS, Jamal Anwar's
Oxidation/Reduction, "Safi" filter, and so on.  Documentation for each
technology is substantial, including information on the proponents,
testing-verification-field trials, number of units in use and their
locatin, costs, related publications, etc.

This looks like *THE* place for inventors/manufacturers of arsenic
removal technologies to send their information.


=====================================================================
LETTERS FROM SUBSCRIBERS

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Subscriber feedback on USEPA tested arsenic field test kits

We at ClearWater Filters.com have used the ITS test kits [Industrial
Test Systems, Inc., QuickT test kit arsenic analysis systems] for over
two years, with excellent and verifiable results for <5ppb to over
500ppb.

John Harck
jfharck @ hotmail.com
http://ClearWaterFilters.com


=====================================================================
TENDERS & VACANCIES

-----------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.epa.gov/ORD/NRMRL/arsenic/research.htm

USEPA National Risk Management Research
Arsenic Rule Implementation Research Program - Research Program Summary

Includes information on their past, current, and future solicitations
related to arsenic removal technologies; Treatment Technology Research
Demonstrations; Environmental Technology Verification Program; Enhanced
EPA Research; Training and Technical Assistance.


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

First Announcement - First International Workshop on Aquifer
Vulnerability and Risk, Salamanca, Gto. México, May 28-30, 2003.

Organized by:

Consejo Técnico de Aguas Irapuato Valle de Santiago, COTAS
Comisión Estatal del Agua de Guanajuato, CEAG
Instituto de Geofísica, UNAM
Red de Vulnerabilidad Acuífera
Instituto Estatal de Ecología de Guanajuato
Municipio de Salamanca, Gto.
Escuela Superior de Ingeniería y Arquitectura, ESIA-IPN

Objectives:  Vulnerable aquifers put groundwater at extreme pollution
risk.  Intense abstraction may cause subsidence or may enhance faults
and fractures increasing aquifer vulnerability.  The primary objective
of the workshop is to develop a multidisciplinary network forum for
groups working with aquifer vulnerability and risk assessment
methodologies by providing an environment conducive to discussion and
interaction.

Topics:  Vulnerability assessment, Aquifer modeling,Model validation
and sensitivity analysis, Geostatistical analysis of aquifer
properties, Subsidence, Risk Assessment, Case Studies

Call for papers:  The organizing committee welcomes abstracts for this
workshop.  Abstracts must be received by October 25, 2002.  An abstract
should not exceed 300 words.  Submissions will be peer-reviewed.
Authors will be notified of the acceptance of their submission in early
December 2002.  Authors of accepted work will be required to submit an
extended abstract of no more than 10 pages by March 7, 2003 for
publication in the workshop proceedings.

Additional Information:

http:/www.igeofcu.unam.mx/avr03
http:/www cotascerca.org/avr03

Please indicate your interest in the conference by sending email to:
Lic. Carlos Valero at valero @ tonatiuh.igeofcu.unam.mx or at valerom @
mexico.com .  Include the following information:  Name, Institution,
address, email.  Indicate if you are interested in: 1) attending  the
Workshop, 2)   presenting a paper, and/or 3) receiving a second
circular.  If you wish to present a paper, please indicate the topic
and tentative title.


=====================================================================
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.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.worldbank.org/html/opr/procure/MOS/sasia.html

From the World Bank October Monthly Operational Summary:

Bangladesh - Population, Health and Nutrition

(R) Arsenic Public Health: The purpose of the project is to support
arsenic-related public health activities of the Ministry of Health and
Family Welfare and NGOs.

Contrary to a previous agreement [cited in the "Websites/Webpages"
section below], the Government recently indicated that the project will
be designed and implemented outside the framework of the Health and
Population Sector Program.

The Government also indicated that the project scope and content would
change to a "curative" project and that the research component would be
downsized.

Given the lack of a "cure" for arsenic related health problems and the
urgent need for research in the field, these alterations along with the
failure to comply with the design framework agreement have stalled
project preparation indefinitely.

The earlier scheduled Board presentation in the third quarter of FY
2003 cannot be met. Environmental Assessment Category C. PID:
BDPE76693. US$ 40.0 (IDA). Consultants will be required. Ministry of
Health and Family Welfare, Bldg. 3, Rm. 341, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh,
Tel: (880-2) 861-6979, 861-6708, 861-0469, Fax: (880-2) 8619077,
Contact: Mr. Wahid Khan, Joint Chief, Planning


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http://www.rnw.nl/development/html/bangla020919.html

Poison in the Well - Radio Netherlands, based on a report by Sakil
Faizullah, 26 September 2002


-----------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.who.int/inf-fs/en/feature206.html

Arsenic - mass poisoning on an unprecedented scale.  World Health
Organization Fact Sheet No. 206, March 2002.


-----------------------------------------------------------------
http://bicn.com/acic/resources/infobank/nfb/2002-10-07-n07102002.htm

Differences on arsenic project patched up - 7 Oct 2002.

The government and the World Bank are likely to sign tomorrow an
agreement on extension of the $44.5 million Bangladesh Arsenic
Mitigation Water Supply Project (BAMWSP).  At a meeting yesterday
afternoon, Local Government, Rural Development (LGRD) and Cooperatives
Minister Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan yesterday afternoon and the WB officials
resolved that the project should continue....
A number of 'flaws' in the project was identified, he said. "Some of
these have already been redressed and others would be taken care of
soon."

Mannan Bhuiyan defended the government decision to change the BAMWSP
project director. "The government has brought some major changes in the
Department of Public Health and Engineering (DPHE). There were
allegations of corruption against some officials while promotions for
some others were outstanding.... (The Daily Star)


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http://bicn.com/acic/resources/infobank/nfb/2002-10-07-f07102002.htm

The Arsenic Saga Updated - By Sylvia Mortoza.  NFB, 7 Oct 2002.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
http://bicn.com/acic/resources/infobank/nfb/2002-10-06-n06102002.htm

Call to sink tubewells in arsenic-hit areas.  BSS (Bangladesh), 6 Oct
2002.

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http://bicn.com/acic/resources/infobank/nfb/2002-10-05-n10052002.htm

Arsenic affected people demand safe drinking water.  BSS (Bangladesh),
5 Oct 2002.

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http://bicn.com/acic/resources/infobank/nfb/2002-10-02-n02102002.htm

No headway in talks on arsenic project funding - 2 Oct 2002.

There has been no development in a crucial meeting between the
government and the World Bank (WB) over the fate of the Tk 189 crore
Bangladesh Arsenic Mitigation Water Supply Project (BAMWSP) that
formally ended Monday.  A meeting to decide whether the WB would
continue funding the project was held yesterday afternoon between the
state minister for Local Government and Rural Development (LGRD) and
WB's senior environment specialist Paul Martin.The meeting ended
without any decision on the extension of the project.

The government, however, decided to continue funding the project from
its own sources. A meeting in this regard was held with the state
minister on Monday.  Bank officials in the meeting insisted that the
government should complete the listed action plans, if the project is
to receive continued funding.  An anonymous source in the bank said,
"The government did not keep its promise to reach the goals, as agreed,
in the four years. So, basically we expected an assurance from the
state minister that the money this time would be utilised as planned."
... (The Daily Star)


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http://bicn.com/acic/resources/infobank/nfb/2002-10-01-n01102002.htm

WB pressure on ministry hindering arsenic project - 2 Oct 2002

Public Health Engineering Department officials yesterday said World
Bank's wrong policy and its unwarranted interference in internal
affairs hindered implementation of the arsenic mitigation project.
They were highly critical of the World Bank's local representative for
"unexpected pressure" on the ministry for reinstatement of a Project
Director who was transferred.

The criticism of the World Bank official came at a review meeting on
progress of the projects under the 2002-2003 Annual Development
Programme (ADP) at the conference room of the Local Government
Engineering Department.  State Minister Ziaul Huq Zia presided over the
meeting. Poor management, irregularities, involving name-sake NGOs at
various stages have caused financial loss to the government as well as
deprived millions of people of arsenic-free safe water, the meeting
observed.

Started in July 1998, the Tk 179 crore Bangladesh Arsenic Mitigation
and Water Supply Project (BAMWSP) was scheduled to be completed in
three years. But so far only 22 percent work has been done and Tk 9
crore out of Tk 43 crore from the government share of the fund for the
project was spent so far.  Although there was target to screen arsenic
free tube well in 188 upazilas, it was done in only 42 upazilas, the
meeting noted terming the progress totally 'dissatisfactory.'... (UNB)


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http://bicn.com/acic/resources/infobank/nfb/2002-09-27-n27092002.htm

ADB gathering data on arsenic contamination - 27 Sep 2002-10-20

A water resources specialist of the Asian Development Bank (ADB)
Thursday said that the bank was currently studying and gathering
information relating to the arsenic contamination in the underground
water of Bangladesh.  "ADB is yet to initiate any programme to assist
Bangladesh in mitigating arsenic problem. We, the ADB, require better
understanding of this problem in this regard," ADB water resources
specialist Wouter Lincklaen Arriens told the newsmen.

The five-day-long Asia-Pacific Regional Consultation Workshop on Water
and Poverty concluded Thursday. Bangladesh Water Resources Planning
Organisation (WARPO) and Brac jointly organised the workshop with
support from the ADB and the governments of the Netherlands and
Denmark.... (The Financial Express)


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http://bicn.com/acic/resources/infobank/nfb/2002-09-21-n21092002.htm

Arsenic contaminated tube-well waters create panic - 21 Sep 2002

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http://bicn.com/acic/resources/infobank/nfb/2002-09-19-l19092002.htm

50,000 suffering from arsenic poisoning in Chandpur - 19 Sep 2002

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http://bicn.com/acic/resources/infobank/nfb/2002-08-13-n13082002.htm

Arsenic awareness inadequate among rural people, dialogue told - 13 Aug
2002

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http://bicn.com/acic/resources/infobank/nfb/2002-08-12-n12082002.htm

Anti-arsenic fight founders; Aid money goes down the drain

-----------------------------------------------------------------
http://bicn.com/acic/resources/infobank/nfb/2002-08-11-n11082002.htm

IDA to provide $40m to fight arsenic

Bangladesh will receive 40 million US dollars from International
Development Agency (IDA), a World Bank Group member, for arsenic
mitigation under a public health project to be undertaken from next
year.  The Appraisal date of the Arsenic Public Health Project (APHP),
which will cost 45 million dollars, has been fixed on March 25 next
year when the Bank is due to approve the project. The fund comes in the
form of lending, IDA officials said.  The objective of the APHP is to
assist Bangladesh in reducing the incidence and prevalence of diseases
caused by arsenic contamination of drinking water and strengthen
national capacity to address public health aspects of arsenic in the
long term, including the capacity for surveillance, monitoring and
evaluation.

The IDA sources said the project would seek to prevent new cases of
arsenicosis and treat those already affected. The strategies included
behaviour change communication to educate the general people about
arsenic contamination of drinking water, its health effects, means to
avoid exposure to the disease and the facts about realistic treatment
options.

The project also aims at enhancing health sector capacity for the
surveillance, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of arsenic-related
diseases along with counselling of patients, promotion of research on
prevalence, incidence and treatment to enable sound public health
planning and intervention, development of patient management tools.

The IDA officials said the strategies would be developed into four
project components while the project would be managed as an integral
part of the Health and Population Sector Programme (HPSP), and will
complement arsenic mitigation activities underway within the IDA-
financed Bangladesh Arsenic Mitigation Water Supply Project (BAMWSP).

The project, however, will not include water testing or provision of
drinking water alternatives, as these activities are being overseen by
Ministry of Local Government and covered under BAMWSP and numerous
local NGO programmes....(BSS)


-----------------------------------------------------------------
http://bicn.com/acic/resources/infobank/nfb/2002-07-03-n03072002.htm

Local arsenic testkit developed - 3 Jul 2002

A local pharmaceutical company has developed a cost-effective, user-
friendly arsenic field test kit. This was claimed by the manufacturer
of the kit, General Pharmaceutical Ltd (GPL), at a press conference in
the city yesterday.

The kit, containing various reagents, chemicals and outfit for testing
the presence of arsenic concentration in tubewell water or any sample
of drinking water, is the first of its kind developed using local
technology.

The kit, an improved version of its older model, has been recently
developed and can test one hundred samples on the site wherever the
tubewell is located and the result is instantly given.

"The lowest range of arsenic, the kit can test, is 10 parts per billion
(ppb) and the highest is 3,000 ppb and each test will roughly cost Tk
22 to 25," said Mir Zaki Azam Chowdhury, marketing manager of GPL.

He said each kit will cost around Tk 2,300 compared to imported
portable kits whose cost range is Tk 2,800 and above...."

The test takes just 20 minutes, using a pretreated cotton wool to
overcome any sulfide interference. Exposure to chemical reaction is
minimised....

"The advantage of the kit is that it has only two steps for testing
water samples and unlike the previous model where liquid acid was used,
the new kit has solid acid to avoid any risk of spillage or damage to
skin while testing," said Dr Haq. (The Daily Star)


-----------------------------------------------------------------
http://bicn.com/acic/resources/infobank/nfb/2002-06-28-n28062002.htm

Arsenic project dumped? - 28 Jun 2002

A US$ 40 million International Development Association (IDA) loan for
an arsenic mitigation project has run into rough weather. In the
absence of any regular department or agency to take its responsibility,
the project has turned into a veritable orphan, informed sources told
The Independent yesterday.

Over the last four years, the Arsenic Mitigation Project has succeeded
in spending only about five per cent of its fund, that too mostly in
the form of office rent, staff salary among others, as there was no
drive for field work....

The BAMWSP was to undertake surveys to properly identify the problems
and viable safe water alternatives in about 200 upazilas out of 265
that were identified as hot spots in respect of arsenic contamination.

Another 45 upazilas were earmarked for work by the Department of Public
Health Engineering (DPHE) and the Unicef (United Nations Children's
Fund), 15 by the World Vision and eight by the Danish International
Development Agency (DANIDA). Work in these upazilas progressed well,
but the nearly 200 upazilas directly under the BAMWSP remained uncared
for....

Informed sources told The Independent that Unicef and DPHE have
completed the screening of all tubewells in the 45 upazilas earmarked
for them, but did not have the funds to initiate testing all tubewells
in the rest of the country. Nor do they have the mandate to do so until
some changes are made in the BAMWSP.

The sources said that because of non-utilisation of the US$ 40 million
IDA loan, donors are refusing to commit fresh money to any organisation
on the plea that those willing to work for arsenic mitigation can make
use of the unutilised funds. But for all practical purposes it is not
available to others.

An official with experience in field work lamented, "We would have been
better placed for support from donors had there been no unutilised IDA
funds for the arsenic mitigation project."

Lack of work during the last four years might have brought many people
taking arsenic contaminated water to the brink of arsenicosis, the
first stage of arsenic- related ailments. They could be cured simply by
ensuring the supply of arsenic-free safe water....

According to Unicef officials, it costs around US$1 to test each
tubewell. Based on this costing they might need barely US$ 8 million to
test all the tube wells now in service. (The Independent )


-----------------------------------------------------------------
http://bicn.com/acic/resources/infobank/nfb/2002-06-26-n26062002.htm

Arsenic contamination takes serious turn in Chandpur.  (26 Jun 2002).

-----------------------------------------------------------------
http://bicn.com/acic/resources/infobank/nfb/2002-06-26-n26062002.htm

53.84pc tubewells sealed off

26 Jun 2002 - As many as 554,081 tube wells representing 53.84 per cent
of the total 1,028,137 surveyed so far in 61 districts have already
been sealed off due to arsenic contamination. Minister for LGRD and
Cooperatives Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan said this while replying to a
question from Golam M Siraj of BNP from Bogra in the Jatiya Sangsad
Tuesday. "The government has undertaken steps to sink arsenic-free tube
wells in those areas to supply pure drinking water among the common
people," he said. - BSS

-----------------------------------------------------------------
http://bicn.com/acic/resources/infobank/nfb/2002-06-25-n25062002.htm

Arsenic contamination sharply cuts access to safe water - The
Independent (Dhaka), 25 Jun

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http://bicn.com/acic/resources/infobank/nfb/2002-06-15-n15062002.htm

WB bails out 4 towns - Daily Star (Dhaka), 15 Jun 2002

-----------------------------------------------------------------
http://bicn.com/acic/resources/infobank/nfb/2002-06-12-f12062002

Removing arsenic from the human body safely and effectively - Editorial
by Sylvia Mortoza, 12 Jun 2002

-----------------------------------------------------------------
http://bicn.com/acic/resources/infobank/nfb/2002-06-12-13062002.htm

Arsenic contamination takes serious turn in Narail (12 Jun 2002)

-----------------------------------------------------------------
http://bicn.com/acic/resources/infobank/nfb/2002-06-11-n11062002.htm

Breakthrough in arsenic removal from human body.  11 Jun 2002.

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http://bicn.com/acic/resources/infobank/nfb/2002-06-11-d11062002.htm

Arsenic in the food chain by Sylvia Mortoza.  NFB (Bangladesh), 11 Jun
2002.

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http://bicn.com/acic/resources/infobank/nfb/2002-06-10-n10062002.htm

Arsenic-contaminated water now being supplied in four towns - Daily
Star (Dhaka), 10 Jun 2002

-----------------------------------------------------------------
http://bicn.com/acic/resources/infobank/nfb/2002-06-09-n09062002.htm

81 pc Bhanga HTW's arsenic affected, Faridpur workshop reveals - 9 Jun
2002

-----------------------------------------------------------------
http://bicn.com/acic/resources/infobank/nfb/2002-06-08-l08062002.htm

96 p.c. tubewells found arsenic contaminated in 12 villages of
Chuadanga.  BSS (Bangladesh), 8 Jun 2002.

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http://bicn.com/acic/resources/infobank/nfb/2002-06-06-n06062002.htm

Arsenic creeps into food chain, impact on health still unknown.  The
Daily Star (Dhaka), 6 Jun 2002.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
http://bicn.com/acic/resources/infobank/nfb/2002-05-12-n12052002.htm

109 suffering from arsenicosis in Charghat UZ in Rajshahi.  The Daily
Star (Dhaka), 12 May 2002

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http://bicn.com/acic/resources/infobank/nfb/2002-05-11-n11052002.htm

Arsenic panic in Faridpur.  The Daily Star (Dhaka), 11 May 2002.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
http://bicn.com/acic/resources/infobank/nfb/2002-05-10-n10052002.htm

Arsenic affected people demand safe drinking water.  BSS (Bangladesh),
10 May 2002

-----------------------------------------------------------------
http://bicn.com/acic/resources/infobank/nfb/2002-05-07-n07052002.htm

Give us pure drinking water, cry villagers - 85 pc tubewells in
Manikganj union contain arsenic poison.  BSS (Bangladesh), 7 May 2002

-----------------------------------------------------------------
http://bicn.com/acic/resources/infobank/nfb/2002-04-29-d29042002.htm

Arsenic in the groundwater, by Sylvia Mortoza.  NFB (Bangladesh), 29
Apr 2002.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
http://bicn.com/acic/resources/infobank/nfb/2002-04-28-n28042002.htm

Govt to promote rainwater as solution to arsenic.  BSS (Bangladesh), 28
Apr 2002.

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http://bicn.com/acic/resources/infobank/nfb/2002-04-20-n20042002.htm

14 more arsenicosis patients detected.  UNB (Bangladesh), 2002.

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http://bicn.com/acic/resources/infobank/nfb/2002-04-13-e13042002.htm

Spend half of profits to fight arsenic - Speakers urge beverage cos at
a seminar in city.  BSS (Bangladesh), 13 Apr 2002.

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http://bicn.com/acic/resources/infobank/nfb/2002-04-12-l21042002.htm

Number of arsenic patients on the rise in Satkhira.  BSS (Bangladesh),
12 Apr 2002.

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http://bicn.com/acic/resources/infobank/nfb/2002-04-05-l05042002.htm

Arsenic menace haunts thousands in Meherpur - 80 pc tubewells
contaminated, 40 pc suffer from malady.  Bangladesh Observer, 5 Apr
2002.

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http://bicn.com/acic/resources/infobank/nfb/2002-04-02-e02042002.htm

BRRI arsenic laboratory inaugurated.  The Independent (Bangladesh), 2
Apr 2002.

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http://bicn.com/acic/resources/infobank/nfb/2002-03-31-n31032002.htm

Excessive arsenicosis [sic] in tubewells: Shariatpur people panicky.
Bangladesh Observer, 31 Mar 2002.

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http://bicn.com/acic/resources/infobank/nfb/2002-03-30-l30032002.htm

Arsenic detected in 8,000 tubewells in Munshiganj.  The Independent
(Bangladesh), 30 Mar 2002.

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http://bicn.com/acic/resources/infobank/nfb/2002-03-25-l25032002.htm

Arsenic contamination takes serious turn in Nabinagar.  BSS
(Bangladesh), 25 Mar 2002.

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http://bicn.com/acic/resources/infobank/nfb/2002-03-22-n22032002.htm

Go-slow arsenic project worries donors - fund disbursement
unsatisfactory.  Daily Star (Dhaka), 22 Mar 2002.

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http://bicn.com/acic/resources/infobank/nfb/2002-03-21-n21032002.htm

Arsenic beyond permissible limit found in water of DTWs.  Financial
Express (Dhaka), 21 Mar 2002.

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http://bicn.com/acic/resources/infobank/nfb/2002-03-21-d21032002.htm

Tackling the Arsenic Disaster - Sylvia Mortoza.  NFB, 21 Mar 2002.


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


-----------------------------------------------------------------

Searching for an optimum solution to the Bangladesh arsenic crisis.
Bruce K. Caldwell, John C. Caldwell, S.N. Mitra, and Wayne Smith.
Social Science & Medicine (2002, in press)

Abstract:  Thirty years ago Bangladesh experienced very high levels of
infant and child mortality, much of it due to water-borne disease in
deltaic conditions where surface water was highly polluted.  In what
appeared to be one of the great public health achievements, 95% of the
population were converted to drinking bacteria-free tubewell water from
underground aquifers.  Recently, it has been shown that perhaps 20% of
this water is arsenic contaminated and alternatives to tubewell water
have been sought.  This paper reports on two national surveys
collaboratively carried out in 2000 by the Health Transition Centre,
Australian National University and Mitra and Associates, Dhaka: A
census of tubewells and a household survey of tubewell use and
arseniosis.  The study found that the tubewell revolution has been
promoted not only by health considerations but also by the demand for a
household water facility and the desire by women to reduce workloads
associated with using surface water.  Because of this, and because the
population had absorbed the message about safe tubewell water, it is
argued that the movement away from the use of tubewell water should be
as limited as possible, even if this means using safe tubewells which
are often found in the neighbourhood.  To enable such a move the most
urgent need is not changing the source of water but comprehensive
national water testing providing essential information to households
about which wells are safe and which are not.


-----------------------------------------------------------------
Arsenic and other heavy metals in soils from an arsenic-affected area
of West Bengal, India.  Tarit Roychowdhury, Tadashi Uchino, Hiroshi
Tokunaga, Masanori Ando.  Chemosphere 49 (2002), 605-618.

Abstract:  Domkal is one of the 19, out of 26 blocks in Murshidabad
district where groundwater contains arsenic above 0.05 mg/l.  Many
millions of cubic meters of groundwater along with arsenic and other
heavy metals are coming out from both the hand tubewells, used by the
villagers for their daily needs and shallow big diameter tubewells,
installed for agricultural irrigation and depositing on soil throughout
the year.  So there is a possibility of soil contamination which can
moreover affect the food chain, cultivated in this area.  A somewhat
detailed study was carried out, in both micro and macrolevel, to get an
idea about the magnitude of soil contamination in this area.  The mean
concentrations (mg/kg) of As (5.31), Fe (6740), Cu (18.3), Pb (10.4),
Ni (18.8), Mn (342), Zn (44.3), Se (0.53), Mg (534), V (44.6), Cr
(33.1), Cd (0.37), Sb (0.29) and Hg (0.54) in fallow land soils are
within the normal range.  The mean As (10.7), Fe (7860) and Mg (733)
concentrations (mg/kg) are only in higher side whereas Hg (0.17 mg/kg)
is in lower side in agricultural land soils, compared to the fallow
land soils.  Arsenic concentrations (11.5 and 28.0 mg/kg respectively)
are high in those agricultural land soils where irrigated groundwater
contains high arsenic (0.082 and 0.17 mg/l respectively).  The total
arsenic withdrawn and mean arsenic deposition per land by the 19
shallow tubewells per year are 43.9 kg (mean: 2.31 kg, range: 0.53-5.88
kg) and 8.04 kg ha-1 (range: 1.66-16.8 kg ha-1) respectively.  For the
macrolevel study, soil arsenic concentration decreases with increase of
distance from the source and higher the water arsenic concentration,
higher the soil arsenic at any distance.  A proper watershed management
is urgently required to save the contamination.



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

-----------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.worldbank.org/pics/pid/bd76693.txt

Project Name: Bangladesh-Arsenic Public Health Project

Funding:  The Government of Netherlands is very likely to cofinance 25%
of the project costs.  In that case, the IDA Credit would become
reduced by such an amount.  Date PID Prepared:  July 11, 2002.  Bank
Approval Date:  March 25, 2003

[...]

3. Rationale for Bank's Involvement

While several other development partners are already supporting arsenic
mitigation activities in Bangladesh, the response so far has been
limited, localized to selected sub-districts and mostly focused on
water supply aspects, with little attention to health issues.  Both
Government and non-governmental partners have been working on the
problem in small pockets, without a comprehensive national strategy.

The Bank support to this project is expected to enhance the response
both quantitatively and qualitatively, by mounting a more complete,
national program within the framework of the MOHFW's program of
activities, in coordination with the consortium of donors who support
that program.  Bank support will bring additional advantages in areas
of economic analysis, capacity-building and inter-sectoral
coordination.  Close cooperation between the Bank task-teams that work
on BAMWSP and APHP (exemplified by considerable overlap of team members
and joint participation in missions of both projects) will help ensure
coordination between the two projects on the Government's part as well;
further, the BAMWSP experience adds significant value in terms of
lessons learnt.

The Bank's access to international experience can help bring a wider
knowledge base to bear on the design and implementation of the project.
During preparation of the analytical paper preceding project
preparation, an internationally recognized expert on the epidemiology
of arsenicosis was included as a peer reviewer.  Such access to
international expertise is particularly important for this project,
because so little is known about the epidemiology of arsenicosis and
the vast majority of relevant research has been performed in other
countries (e.g. Taiwan, India, Chile).  International expertise will be
utilized in the committee overseeing research under the project  Such
international assistance would be obtained through individuals of
repute as well as institutions such as the U.S. Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Finally, the project strategy of supporting both epidemiological
surveillance and cost-effective public health interventions will be in
line with the new role of the MOHFW discussed during preparatory
activities for the sector's program beyond June 2003.

4. Description

The project has four components:

(a) behavior change communication (BCC) focusing on risk reduction
strategies and individual responsibility (to complement the information
campaigns carried out by the water sector);

(b) capacity-strengthening, including training programs for all health
care personnel on identifying arsenicosis and counseling patients and
diagnostic facilities;

(c) research on the epidemiology, prevention and management of
arsenicosis, including pilot activities that could yield scientific
data on efficacy, safety, feasibility and costs of treatment options;

(d) management of patients, suffering from the consequences of arsenic
poisening.

This last component will only be initiated as pilots to field test the
feasibility of present treatment options within the public health
system. The project will not include water testing or provision of
drinking water alternatives, as these activities are under the
responsibility of Ministry of Local Government and are being covered
under BAMWSP and numerous local NGO programs.

The BCC component will focus on risk reduction strategies and
individual responsibility.  Development of a BCC strategy with
participation by important stakeholders will be necessary.  BCC will
educate about arsenic and arsenicosis, including messages about the
non-communicability of the disease, and will urge prevention through
the use of safe water, while ensuring that public expectations about
patient treatment are realistic (in terms of available technology,
costs, etc.)  This activity will coordinate with and complement the
information campaigns carried out by the water sector describing water
testing and safe water alternatives and will be reinforced by the
personal interaction by the field health workers.  The campaign can
utilize all avenues for public communication, including television,
radio, newspapers, banners, signs, pamphlets, school programs, dramas,
song, and dance.

In view of capacity constraints in the MOHFW to launch effective
communication campaigns and organizational issues lingering from the
restructuring of the "Unified" BCC unit, most of the BCC activities
will need to be contracted out to appropriate firms or organizations in
the non-governmental sector; but the coordination of the activities may
rest with the UBCC unit of MOHFW.  This component will begin
immediately and will be nationwide in scope, with local activities
timed to coincide with campaigns for water testing and provision of
safe alternatives whenever possible.   Combined with these campaigns
follow up sessions through inter personal communications by field
workers will be organized,

Capacity-strengthening includes human resources, non-human resources
(equipment, supplies and facilities), and systems.  Based on
assessments of in-country capacity on various aspects, including
laboratory facilities, behavior change communication, conduct of
training, information systems, procurement and logistics and financial
management, this component would finance the necessary training, system
development (including quality assurance) and minimal infrastructure
development where essential.

The scope and phasing of capacity-building activities will vary
depending on the specific capacity in question and still need to be
detailed.  The initial training program for health care providers will
focus on what is currently known about the epidemiology of arsenicosis,
the identification of patients with arsenicosis and those with sequelae
requiring referral to treatment facilities, and counseling patients for
risk reduction, i.e. by using safe water.  A need assessment of
training will be worked out.

Awareness of responsibilities of MOHFW staff in addressing the arsenic
crisis needs to be ensured at all levels.  All training will include
interpersonal communication skills, and separate technical content will
be prepared for health workers of different categories at the primary,
secondary and tertiary levels of health care. The training will be
conducted by department(s) or institution(s) under MOHFW or contract
agencies (to be decided during project preparation based on assessment
of institutional capacity).

This component will begin immediately and will be nationwide in scope,
with providers in areas where no training has been conducted to be
reached first.  A module will also be developed for pre-service
training of health staff so that future generations of health care
providers will also be able to manage and counsel their patients.
Since training in Essential Services for Health Assistants/Family
Welfare Assistants has not been completed yet, there may be an
opportunity to include a module on arsenic in this training.

The research component would focus on questions that must be answered
for informed decision-making within the project and will not encompass
issues that are primarily of academic interest.  The agenda will be set
by a committee of national and international epidemiologists with
expertise in arsenic.  This committee will be formed under the umbrella
of the Bangladesh Medical Research Council (BMRC), which is the primary
organization for overseeing health research in Bangladesh.  The agenda
will, at a minimum, include scientific assessments and monitoring of
the percentage of the population exposed to unsafe water and the
incidence and prevalence of arsenicosis and its sequelae, using active
case finding methods, so that estimates can be made of the number of
patients who may require treatment as well as clinical trials of
proposed treatments to assess their effectiveness.

As part of this component, a database of relevant past and ongoing
research in Bangladesh and around the world will be maintained and
publicly disseminated by BMRC to avoid duplication of effort and to
inform research priorities.  It is expected that some studies may be
sponsored or commissioned under the APHP, while others will be
sponsored by external institutions such as multilateral aid
organizations and foreign governments.  The database will be
constructed during project preparation so that the committee will be
able to begin decision-making immediately.

Also during project preparation, a workshop will be held with World
Health Organization co-sponsorship that will bring together local,
regional, and international medical experts on arsenic to develop
consensus guidelines for the diagnosis and staging of arsenicosis
patients.  The applicability of findings will be nationwide in scope.
Pilot treatment activities, however, will be located in "hot-spot"
areas to help those in greatest need.  The scope of the patient
management component would depend upon results from the research
component, which would include well-designed clinical trials and pilot
activities.

This component will likely include additional training of health care
providers on identification and management of arsenicosis and its
consequences, and may include supplies and equipment to the health
sector.  Which specific treatment regimens might be financed from the
project will depend on their efficacy, safety, operational feasibility,
and costs.  Also, once a realistic estimate of case-load exists, an
assessment will be made of the need for arsenicosis patient management
facilities across the country, with a view to strengthening existing
health service facilities (public and non-public) at the appropriate
level(s).  Because activities under APHP are to be part of the overall
program of MOHFW, all activities under this component must be of a cost
and scope that is concordant with overall health sector priorities and
policies.  (For example, it may be feasible to provide simple
outpatient excisions of localized skin cancers but perhaps not to
provide lengthy courses of treatment with expensive drugs for internal
cancers)

Ultimately patient management will be national in scope, but activities
will begin in districts that have been the hardest hit and then phased
in around the country.  Some evaluation/assessment  of BCC and training
components will be needed; such assessments will be carried out as part
of preparatory activities.

Another area which needs to be considered  during preparation phase is
an assessment of NGO capacity, and how far they will be able to
function within the Bank's procurement guidelines, selection criteria
etc.  since it is proposed to utilize their services substantially.

A logical framework (log-frame) exercise was initiated as part of the
identification mission, in a workshop which brought together all major
stakeholders (e.g. government officials, researchers, NGOs, and
potential co-funders), and the rough output is attached (Annex 1).  The
further development of the log-frame will be continued in a broad-based
participatory manner during project preparation, so as to ensure both a
wide ownership and a superior product....


-----------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.wsp.org/english/access/sa.html

Fighting arsenic: listening to rural communities - WSP study
investigates people's preference for arsenic mitigation options and
their willingness to pay

"...Finding the most effective, acceptable and sustainable set of
solutions for [the arsenic] crisis is imperative.

"The search for ... solutions has to-date focused largely on the
'supply side', concentrating on engineering devises for removing
arsenic. There has been less effort to understand preferences of rural
households. This is a critical gap. People's perceptions and
preferences are essential for appropriateness and sustainability of the
proposed alternatives. WSP-SA launched a study to investigate the
above. The study uses the contingent valuation method for assessing
people's preferences for various arsenic mitigation options and their
willingness to pay for such alternatives.

"Important findings of the study include the following:

"1.  Communities are reluctant to accept technologies that are less
convenient than the current handpump technology. They overwhelmingly
voiced support for accessing simple, localized piped-water systems in
the rural areas and expressed their willingness to pay for such system.

"2.  People opted for piped water - aspiring for better quality of
service -irrespective of the arsenic problem.

"3.  The study reiterates the need for offering a menu of choice to the
communities.

"4.  The study shows that the level of awareness about arsenic and the
perception of health hazards associated with drinking arsenic
contaminated water is low.

"5.  Finally, the study suggests that the arsenic crisis requires a
greater focus on institutional approaches in addition to technological
innovations.

"For more information contact Shafiul Azam Ahmed, Water and Sanitation
Specialist at wspsa @ worldbank.org "


-----------------------------------------------------------------
Message from Malcolm Swanney, Technical Manager, Clearwater Concepts
Pty Ltd, Queensland Australia:

Clearwater Concepts Pty Ltd, Australia, have developed a tablet product
- Clear-Fresh - for treating drinking water to remove arsenic, to
sanitise the water, and to floc impurities out of the water.

The product not only carries out an oxidisation process to remove
arsenic and other heavy metals, but also sanitises drinking water by
destroying E-coli and harmful bacteria.  Clear-Fresh has been tested
successfully for the removal of cholera and legionella.

The floccing ability ensures that if polluted water is treated for use
as drinking water then items in suspension are flocced to the bottom to
enable the largest percentage of clean water to be drawn off.  One 2.5
gram tablet will treat 25 litres of water.  A family using 40 litres of
water a day could treat their water for less than USD25.00 per year.

Clear-Fresh is currently undergoing testing at Deakin University in
Australia, and field trials have been carried out in Bangladesh using a
50% lower active ingredient than what is currently produced.  The field
testing in Bangladesh showed reductions in arsenic levels to the limit
of the NIPSOM kit of 0.02 mg/ltrs.  The current University testing will
provide us with the total extent of the reduction using Clear-Fresh.

On the completion of further testing of our product, we will apply for
BAMWSP ETV of our technology.

For more information:  http://www.roadtech-int.com, tech @ roadtech-
int.com, tel +61-(0)7-5576 6490.


-----------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.adedgetech.com

Arsenic Removal Technology

Contact:  Kiron Senapati, P.E., Vice President International Business,
AdEdge Technologies Inc., 50 Technology Pkwy. South Norcross, GA 30092,
tel (678) 221-2138, fax (678) 221-2045, Ksenapati @ adedgetech.com


=====================================================================
NEW & NEWLY DISCOVERED REAL WORLD STUFF
Offline-only print publications & newsletters, videos, research in
progress, test kits, removal technologies, etc.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
NCL (India) User Friendly Field Test Kit for Measurement of Arsenic in
Drinking Water

High lights of NCL developed Arsenic Monitor-2000:
1. User friendly, can be used by villagers
2. No electricity or battery required
3. A calibrated detector tube gives quantitative data of the
    arsenic concentration in the water.
4. Time required for each test is less than 10 minutes.
5. Arsenic determination possible at the source
6. Highly sensitive: can detect arsenic at concentration levels
    from 5 PPB and above
7. Speciation (i.e. As III and As V) possible
8. Permanent record of each sample with the help of detector tube
9. Detector kits will be used continuously at the installed
    arsenic removal systems
10.All reagents are in solid form; no liquid or corrosive reagents used

This kit was developed with financial support from UNICEF

The performance of the Kit was extensively evaluated in Kolkata in
terms of

1. Accuracy
2. Speed
3. Economy
4. User- friendly nature
5. Adaptable at village level monitoring

Cost of each kit is estimated to be less then $100. One kit will be
used for testing 100 water samples.  Cost of each sample test will be
less then Rs 20/- compared with Rs. 1300/- per sample by the continuous
hydride generation atomic absorption method.  For further details email
to ogbnambiar @ pd.ncl.res.in


=====================================================================
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 to email 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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since the last issue).


=====================================================================

The National Science and Technology Development Agency and the Thai Research
Fund have sponsored Dr. Yuwadee from the Chemistry Dept of the Faculty of
Science to develop one such test kits. It's done and they are being distributed
in the field  now.

There should be some outcome pretty soon. The Japan Gov has sponsored the
project in Ronpipul utilising the test kits from Japanese make. I think if you
trying something other than arsine gas is OK.

Sumol Pavittranon, Ph. D.
Toxicology and Environmental Laboratory. MOPH

-----Reply to Rick Johnston's post-----

From: watoo prohmpittayarat [mailto:watoop@...]
Sent: October 17, 2002 7:45 AM
To: arsenic-crisis-owner@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Hello Arsenic-crisis group

Hello  Rick Johnston
I'm a Thai people.I interest to created Arsenic test kit.
I'm a Pharmacist.I tried to created them to test drug and water.
I want sensitivity ~0.04 ppm. and least danger.
I study in USP, NF and more.Their 're so low sensitivity & used danger
chemical.
Have you get me a new idea.
Thank you so much
Watoo

-----Rick Johnston responds-----

Dear Watoo:

Most field kits convert arsenic in water to arsine gas, which then comes
in contact with some chemical which changes color, such as mercuric
bromide. Unfortunately, the chemicals required are toxic, as is the
arsine gas itself. There are some details about the different chemicals
that can be used in the USEPA ETV evaluations:

1) http://www.epa.gov/etv/pdfs/vrvs/01_vr_AS_75.pdf
2) http://www.epa.gov/etv/pdfs/vrvs/01_vr_AsTopHE_AAA.pdf
3) http://www.epa.gov/etv/pdfs/vrvs/01_vr_quick.pdf

There is more information on the Quick test at the manufacturer's web
site:

http://www.acustrip.com/specs/specs481396.html

The United States Geological Survey has a explanation of analytical
techniques for arsenic measurement. Most are laboratory techniques, but
you might find the references useful:

http://wwwbrr.cr.usgs.gov/Arsenic/FinalAbsPDF/taylor.pdf

For many years the Asian Arsenic Network has produced an inexpensive
field test kit. It is described in detail at their website, and
instructions are given for making your own reagents as well:

http://www.asia-arsenic.net/as3as5/ASKITNEW.HTM

These sites should give you some good information about the chemical
procedures that have been most effective. If I were you, I would
consider the possibility of purchasing kits from one of these providers.
The manufacturers have already gone through a long process of trial and
error, and you can benefit from their experiences rather than having to
go through all of the pain yourself. Why re-invent the wheel?

You will probably want to identify a reference laboratory in Thailand
that can verify field kit performance, using a technology such as atomic
absorption spectrophotometry (AAS). Also, be warned that many kits
work quite well on laboratory standards, but give much poorer results
for natural waters. As(V) can be more difficult to measure than As(III)
with field kits. Your verification tests should include natural waters
spiked with various amounts of As(III) and As(V).

Best of luck in your efforts -

Rick Johnston

On Monday, October 21st, the Columbia SBRP October seminar will be held from 3pm
to 5pm at the Mailman School of Public Health Division of Environmental Health
Sciences Conference Room, Level B-1, 60 Haven Avenue, NYC.

The topics for the October seminar include

3:00PM-3:55PM "Household responses to arsenic contamination in Bangladesh" to be
presented by Alex Pfaff and Malgosia Madajewicz, DIPA and Economics Department,
Columbia University.

4:00PM-4:55PM "Oxidative stress genotype, anti-oxidants and arsenic-induced skin
lesions: potentials for prevention" to be presented
by Habibul Ahsan, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University.

4:55PM-5:00PM Discussion of related projects and upcoming events.

The seminar is open to anyone interested in these topics.

Please note that the Columbia SBRP website has been updated. For more
information about the program including a calendar of events and a list  of
related publications please see our website at

http:superfund.ciesin.columbia.edu.

Questions? Contact either the Division of Environmental Health Sciences of the
Mailman School of Public Health (212-305-3464) or Meredith Golden at CIESIN
(845-365-8968).

Thank you for your continued interest--

Meredith Golden
CIESIN at Columbia University
Geosciences

Dear colleagues:

As part of its ongoing Environmental Technology Verification (ETV)
program, the USEPA has recently conducted rigorous reviews of four portable
arsenic analyzers:

1)     Peters Engineering PeCo 75 and As 75
        (same thing, one with electronic color measurer, one visual)

2)     Envitop Ltd. As-Top Water arsenic test kit

3)     Industrial Test Systems, Inc., QuickT test kit arsenic analysis
        systems

4)     NANO-BAND EXPLORER Portable Water Analyzer

The first three are based on arsine generation, while the fourth uses
anodic stripping voltammetry.

The USEPA ETV reports for these devices are online at

1) http://www.epa.gov/etv/pdfs/vrvs/01_vr_AS_75.pdf
2) http://www.epa.gov/etv/pdfs/vrvs/01_vr_AsTopHE_AAA.pdf
3) http://www.epa.gov/etv/pdfs/vrvs/01_vr_quick.pdf
4) http://www.epa.gov/etv/pdfs/vrvs/01_vr_nano-band.pdf

[The referring page address is
http://www.epa.gov/etv/verifications/vcenter1-21.htm - Moderator]

Of the four, the AS 75 and the Quick test got the best results. I know
the AS 75 and its close cousin the Arsenator 510, which have been used in South
Asia.

The Quick test, on the other hand, was new to me. Various versions of the kit
are available, all for under US$200. The manufacturer's web site is:

http://www.acustrip.com/specs/specs481396.html

I would be interested to hear if any arsenic-crisis subscribers have had
experience with one or more of these kits. It's a pity USEPA wasn't
able to evaluate the Merck or Hach kits, but those manufacturers chose
not to submit their kits to USEPA.

Best regards -

Rick Johnston
Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering
University of North Carolina
Chapel Hill, NC, USA