Taranagar from 2000 to 2005 : Changes in Arsenic Poisoning in A Badly Affected Village in Meherpur, Bangladesh

Abstract

Arsenic poisoning in groundwater is one of the worst natural catastrophes—the Bangladeshi people are facing in recent times. Tube well water (the principal source of drinking water) in many parts of Bangladesh is becoming contaminated with arsenic at levels much higher than is permissible (0.05 mg/liter). Arsenic is a carcinogen that leads to melanosis, keratosis, gangrene and cancer of the lungs, kidney, liver and other internal organs. A social survey concerned with arsenic was carried out in 2000 in Taranagar, a village very severely affected by arsenic contamination. Another survey was carried out in 2005 to determine the changes in this village after five years. In this paper the levels of arsenic poisoning in Taranagar in 2000 is compared with that in 2005. Arsenic poisoning situation had worsened in Taranagar—prevalence of patients in households increased from 70.2% to 90%. Five people had already died of arsenicosis. This situation raised awareness of the residents to some extent so that half of them in 2005 drank water from alternative water sources such as dug wells and ring wells. However, the situation was still far from satisfactory.