Determination of Arsenic (As) and Iron (Fe) Concentration in Ground Water and Associated Health Risk by Arsenic Contamination in Singair Upazila, Manikganj District, Bangladesh

Abstract

Contamination of drinking water by Arsenic (As) & Iron (Fe) is nowadays appeared as a big concern for public health and environment as well. Immoderate and continued revelation of inorganic arsenic along with drinking water is triggering arsenicosis. High Fe and As concentration found in the study area is also appeared as very challenging to those people who are consuming the water on regular basis and they may confront to a high health risk. This study is conducted to determine the concentration of Fe and As in ground tube-well containing possible health risk in Bangladesh which examines the ground water As and Fe scenario of Singair Upazila, Manikganj district. Total 40 samples were collected from the study area. As and Fe were analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). The study found As concentration ranged from 0.0011 to 0.0858 mg/L with the mean concentration as 0.04186 mg/L. Concentration of Fe was found 0.175 to 13.865 mg/L with the mean concentration as 3.600 mg/L whereas WHO standard level is 0.01 mg/L for As and 0.3 mg/l for Fe. It was also noticed that As and Fe concentration in shallow tube-well was relatively high than that in deep tube-well and a strong correlation between As and Fe was marked in the ground water. Therefore, to cope with this challenge, people should look for other sources or relocate the tube-well or treat the water for drinking and other everyday purposes.