Arsenic Problem
Introduction: Arsenic is the poisonous substance found in water. So long the people were mostly concerned with water pollution and air pollution. If people drink arsenic-contaminated water, they suffer from arsenicosis. It should go without saying that water is essential for our life and living. We need pure water for health. But a large number of people in most of the districts in Bangladesh have been suffering from fatal diseases. These kinds of diseases are mostly caused by arsenic problem. Poisoning by arsenic is a slow process. When the poison of arsenic gradually builds up in our body the symptoms of the disease can be seen on the body, and the affected persons begin to feel unwell.
Water pollution: But water is polluted in many ways. Man pollutes water by throwing waste materials into it. Using chemical. Fertilizer and insecticides farmers pollute water. This polluted water is carried by rain and floods to the river, canals, and ponds. Thus these chemical fertilizers are mixed with the water of rivers and canals and the water is polluted. Village people are not cautious about arsenic poisoning and in many areas of our country arsenic pollution is taking place.
Arsenic contamination: Arsenic is a chemical element and fatal poison. This poison mixes with water, especially with tube-well water and pollutes. In chemistry, arsenic is referred to as violently poisonous with a compound of the bristle element. Now, this element is detected to be present in larger quantities in the tube well eater hazard. Press reports on this matter are drawing the attention of all classes of people to be aware of it after polluted by arsenic causes, many diseases like sores and stomach troubles. Besides, drinking water contaminated by arsenic causes pain in the stomach, caught, and eye troubles. Also, there might be such sores in the secret organs of the body which may ultimately reach the stage of cancer.
Treatment: Primary treatment of this disease is a balanced diet. It is believed that vitamin A, C, E are effective for arsenicosis treatment. The remedy of this problem is to drink water free from arsenic. Our tube-wells are to be tested and those which are not free from arsenic should be identified. The water of the pond and river can be drunk after purification. Rainwater is safe and free from arsenic.
Present position on Bangladesh: It is detected to be present in large quantities in the shallow tube-well water of many districts of Bangladesh. Nearly all the people are dependent on tube-well water in rural and small urban areas. Arsenic-contaminated water in Bangladesh has reached an alarming stage. Many lives are lost in the meantime in the different parts of the country. The situation is going from bad to worse day by day. The reason is that most of our people are still ignorant about the dangerous effect of the arsenic problem.
Conclusion: The situation of the present arsenic problem in Bangladesh demands all our preventive measures. Should we fail to do this person will be thrown into a vortex of serious health hazards. As it is a national problem, the government should think over the matter and should make conscious people prevent arsenicosis.
