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Contamination of Drinking-Water by Arsenic in Bangladesh

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Contamination of Drinking-Water by Arsenic in Bangladesh
Introduction:

There are metal substances which have mixed up with the river water of Bangladesh. The substance is known as Arsenic in Bangladesh. It was first found in the West Bengal ten years ago (1995-96). Arsenic is both toxic and carcinogenic. It is in inorganic forms, dissolved in drinking water which is the most significant forms of natural exposure. Organic forms of arsenic that may be present in food are much less toxic to humans. Clinical manifestations of arsenic poisoning begin with various forms of skin diseases, which lead to damage of internal organs, ultimately to cancer and death.

Cause of Arsenic:

This toxic element is found in tub-well water. People are affected by it only when they drink it arsenic is detected in water in many parts of our country. The primary sours of arsenic in the natural environment is arsenic bearing minerals, most areas bearing sulfide alone with copper, nickel, lead, cobalt and other metals. Arsenic in soils manly deprived from its parents rock materials. The mixture of arsenic is not desirable in drinking water but is practically unavoidable. A concentration in excess of permissible limil 0.05 ppm in per liter of water increases the risk of arsenic poisoning.

Water quality testing lab

Over the past few years, access to safe water has become increasingly difficult due to changes in the quality and quantity of ground and surface water. Gradual declining of and arsenic poising in ground water, and saline intrusion have posed a great threat to the availability of potable drinking water. This issue has been further complicated by the absence of adequate number of well-equipped laboratory for regular water quality testing. Regular testing of water quality has become crucial to ensure the standard of drinking water quality.

In order to address the pressing need for laboratory, NGO Forum established an advanced Water Quality Testing Laboratory (WQTL) in 2000 with the

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