This document discusses arsenic water pollution in Bangladesh. It notes that over 20 million people have been poisoned by drinking groundwater containing over 50 ppb of arsenic, the WHO standard, and an estimated 3,000 people die annually from related illnesses like diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular disease. The problem arose in the 1970s when millions of tube wells were drilled to access groundwater after surface waters became unsafe, but high natural arsenic levels in some aquifers were not discovered until later. Possible causes of the high arsenic include sediments transported by the Ganges river from the Himalayas and untreated waste entering aquifers. Solutions proposed include expensive chemical treatments and a lower-cost batch process using lemon juice to

2. Name : MD. Rakibul Hasan Tanmoy
Department: BSEEE
ID: 15305068

3. Arsenic Water Pollution
in Bangladesh

4. ArsenicArsenic
 Known toxin causing:Known toxin causing:
 Diabetes mellitusDiabetes mellitus
 Cardiovascular problemsCardiovascular problems
 Cancer (skin, lung, liver, bladder, pancreas)Cancer (skin, lung, liver, bladder, pancreas)
 SoresSores
 Knotty, blackened palmsKnotty, blackened palms
 Exists as arsenite, arsenate, arsenic, arsineExists as arsenite, arsenate, arsenic, arsine
 Former two found in water sourcesFormer two found in water sources

5. The ProblemThe Problem
 1/3 of pop. depend on1/3 of pop. depend on
groundwater above 50 ppbgroundwater above 50 ppb
(WHO Std- 10 ppb)(WHO Std- 10 ppb)
 20 million already poisoned20 million already poisoned
 Many don’t seek treatmentMany don’t seek treatment
(mild to moderate)(mild to moderate)
 Estimated 3000 deathsEstimated 3000 deaths
annuallyannually

6. Cause of ProblemCause of Problem
 1970s- High population density1970s- High population density
 Pathogen rich surface waterPathogen rich surface water
 250,000 children die annually of water-borne250,000 children die annually of water-borne
diseasesdiseases
 ~40 million tube wells drilled~40 million tube wells drilled
 Infant mortality reducedInfant mortality reduced
 High arsenic ground water concentrationHigh arsenic ground water concentration

7. Cause of ProblemCause of Problem
 Arsenic on sediment- traveled in Ganges riverArsenic on sediment- traveled in Ganges river
from Himalayasfrom Himalayas
 Copper Arsenite PesticidesCopper Arsenite Pesticides
 Entered aquifers via organic carbon (MIT)Entered aquifers via organic carbon (MIT)
 Untreated waste at fault?Untreated waste at fault?
 Some claim irrigation is at faultSome claim irrigation is at fault

8. Problem SolutionProblem Solution
 Oxidative Adsorption- Practical ExampleOxidative Adsorption- Practical Example
 Chemicals dangerous, expensive and difficult to useChemicals dangerous, expensive and difficult to use
on household levelon household level
 Alternative- Batch Process (SORAS)Alternative- Batch Process (SORAS)
 Add lemon juice to open container of ground water, close,Add lemon juice to open container of ground water, close,
shake, leave in the sun and filter…shake, leave in the sun and filter…
 Any guesses as to what happens next???Any guesses as to what happens next???
 Hint- think of other naturally occuring ions in waterHint- think of other naturally occuring ions in water

9. Problem SolutionProblem Solution