Arsenic Screening of Ground Water From Tube Wells Located Within Chittagong City

Abstract — Arsenicosis is a well-known chronic disease which occurs due to the reason of drinking arsenic concentrated tube well water. Tube well water of 60 districts in Bangladesh is suffering from danger level of arsenic concentration. Chittagong is one of them. But the city area was not thoroughly screened out as it was thinking that also arsenic is not present in Chittagong city ground water. But recent research revealed that there are 13 wards of the city are affected by arsenic. Out of these 7 wards are vulnerable to human health. The investigation which is done in 2010 includes the through screening of shallow tube well water in two wards in term of arsenic concentration, Some deep tube well water also checked randomly for the same. The screening has been done on the basis of field test through well established test kit. From the investigation it has been established that the arsenic affected pockets are present in the ward. Also the numbers of affected tube wells, the percentage of area contamination are specified and a discussion has been made regarding the possible reasons for the arsenic contamination.