The Daily Star: Volume 3 Number 877 Wed. February 20, 2002 Drinking death in groundwater Naimul Haq Random surveys in 61 districts of the country have revealed presence of various chemicals in groundwater at alarming levels, which could cause severe health hazards in long-term consumption. Levels of uranium concentration found in groundwaters across Bangladesh Damage of lever, kidney, intestines and high blood pressure or male sterility are some of the impacts that these inorganic chemicals could cause. Two joint studies by the British Geological Survey (BGS) and the Department of Public Health and Engineering (DPHE) during 1998-1999 have found high concentration of naturally occurring chemicals like uranium, manganese, boron, sulphur, fluoride and phosphorus in groundwater in several places. The UK Department for International Development (DFID) funded the study-- DPHE/BGS National Hydro-Chemical Survey-- that analysed 3,534 water samples from hand-pumps in 61 districts. Following the findings, the government has now asked the DPHE to check all these elements in water in its routine monitoring. The samples were analysed at a UK laboratory using highly reliable water quality testing method. The study concluded that 35 per cent of the samples exceeded the World Health Organisation (WHO) guideline value of 0.5 milligram per Litre (mg/L) for manganese in drinking water. Wells in western Bangladesh (Rajshahi regions) were found to contain as high as 10 mg/L manganese. The report also said five per cent of the samples exceeded the WHO guideline value of 0.5 mg/L for boron. Southern coastal areas and some small northeastern regions were found to have boron contamination. Boron, if ingested in excess quantity for a long time, can damage the central nervous system. A smaller number of samples mostly from the southwestern coastal regions exceeded the guideline value of 0.7 mg/L for barium. Molybdenum was also found in high concentration, above the WHO guideline value, at Chapai-nawabganj and Faridpur. At two sites of the districts, the chemical was found at 410 and 800 micrograms per litre. This chemical has toxic effects. The study also found high concentration of uranium, a carcinogenic element that may cause cancer. About half the samples from Chaipainawabganj exceeded the WHO guideline value of 2 microgram per litre. A special study at Chapai-nawabganj, Faridpur and Laxmipur revealed uranium presence in 28 per cent samples. The presence was 47 microgram per litre of water as against the WHO limit of 2 microgram per litre. In Dhaka city, arsenic, antimony, boron, cadmium, chromium, molybdenum, nickel and uranium were detected in low concentrations. Dr Kazi Matin Ahmed, one of the study consultants who is also an associate professor of the Department of Geology, Dhaka University, said, "The presence of the chemicals is quite alarming for us. But we must immediately initiate a monitoring system to determine the extent of the problem." Alarmed by the revelation, Unicef office in Dhaka has requested the DPHE this week to include 'certain new parameters' for drinking water quality tests. "We have urged the government to carry out more tests as we have evidence of new elements other than arsenic in drinking water. This is part of our precautionary measures," said Colin J Davis, chief of Water and Environmental Sanitation, Unicef. Bangladesh has no set standard or protocol as to what to look for during drinking water quality tests. The DPHE tests some priority elements in water-- PH factor, iron, chloride, manganese, hardness, eclectic conductivity and arsenic-- important for health risk management. "We only test these seven elements, but it is time we include more elements in our drinking water quality checks. In fact, we are now preparing a water quality surveillance plan, which is in final stage," said S M Ihtishamul Huq, chief of the Research and Development Division of the DPHE. Chief Engineer of the DPHE Abu Muslim expressed concern at the findings and said, "In response to the study report, we have decided to include more tests for water quality. But we don't have any device to measure uranium deposit in drinking water." The government will have to spend additional Tk 1 crore this year for the new tests as some 12,000 tubewells will be installed in the rural areas. The arsenic test is the most expensive one, which costs around Tk 500 for each check. To detect manganese, boron, sulphur and iron, each test costs around Tk 50. According to WHO, chromium at high concentration can damage liver and cause irritation in intestine. Long-term exposure to cadmium causes high blood pressure, sterility among males and can damage kidney. Other chemicals may also be risky if exposed for a long time.