Research: India built dams cause of Arsenic problem
sumon...@my-deja.com
may be responsible for the arsenic catastrophe of Bangladesh, the
people of India living on the Bengal Delta and further stress on
species in natural preserves already endangered by man's activities.
ARSENIC CRISIS: A CHALLENGE FOR SCIENTISTS TO FIND THE ORIGIN OF THE
ARSENIC THAT CAUSED THE POISONING DISASTER IN BANGLADESH
By:
Thomas E. Bridge, Prof. of Geology (Emeritus), Emporia State
University, Kansas, USA and Meer T. Husain, Environmental Geologist,
Kansas Dept. of Health And Environment, Kansas, USA
NTRODUCTION:
The groundwater arsenic poisoning in Bangladesh was discovered about
seven years ago. Many of the people of Bangladesh are still drinking
and using arsenic poison water for their daily requirement. More than
90 million peoples are being poisoned by deadly arsenic. Many
scientists from several different countries are working on the arsenic
problem in Bangladesh but no one has come up with an explanation based
on convincing evidence that pinpoints the source of the arsenic that is
poisoning the people in Bangladesh.
The British Geological Survey (BGS) is the only experienced
professional organization that engaged in an overall arsenic
contamination study in Bangladesh. In any groundwater contamination
study, the source and the remediation are the principal objectives. The
groundwater arsenic poisoning in Bangladesh is a geological problem.
The data collected by the DPHE/DFID/BGS/Mott Mac Donald for the
"Groundwater Studies for Arsenic Contamination in Bangladesh"will be
examined and their hypothesis for the cause will be tested. The theory
proposed by Ross Nickson et.al. that arsenic adsorbed by iron
hydroxides washed in from pre-glacial surface deposits was accepted by
the BGS/Mott McDonald/DPHE/DFID investigators. The Oxyhydroxide
Reduction theory was then accepted by some of the scientific community
as a main process for mobilization of arsenic in groundwater. The
pyrite oxidation theory was mentioned but rejected. We have serious
doubts about the validity of oxyhydroxide reduction hypothesis as the
cause of groundwater arsenic poisoning in Bangladesh for the following
reasons: (1). No systematic analysis of iron hydroxides to show that
arsenic is present have been shown to exist in the source area from
which the iron hydroxides supposedly came. (2). We are not aware of
comprehensive sampling and analyses for arsenic of the pyrites in the
organic material present below the water table. (3). If the oxidation
of arsenic pyrites is the source of the arsenic, the iron hydroxides
produced by pyrite weathering would probably adsorb the arsenic.
Therefore we see no reason for assuming the validity of one theory over
the other until better evidence is available. To know the source of the
arsenic is important for these reasons:
(1). Protect the present population and prevent future generations from
arsenic poisoning.
(2). Find uncontaminated aquifers and water resources and protect them
from arsenic contamination.
(3). Clean arsenic contaminated soil and shallow groundwater aquifers.
(4). Control source of arsenic poisoning
(5). Developing a safe, long lasting clean and healthy water supply
system for the nation.
(6). Develop a sewage and waste disposal system to prevent
contamination of soil and water supplies.
If the cause and source are not established the problem may reappear in
the future. Present available data indicates that no one is safe from
poisoning by arsenic in all of Bangladeshi. The initial cost may be high
and Bangladesh may not be able to provide a safe water supply for the
Nation with out the help of international community. However a
centralized system with continued monitoring will be the cheapest and
safest system in the long run.
HISTORY OF OXYHYDROXIDE REDUCTION HYPOTHESIS:
In 1998 "Nature" published an article entitled "Arsenic Poisoning of
Bangladesh Groundwater" written by Nickson R.T. & Mc Arthur et.al.
According to that article "oxyhydroxide reduction" is the main cause for
the mobilization of groundwater arsenic poisoning in Bangladesh. They
state that "Arsenic has been reported to derive from the oxidation of
arsenic-rich pyrite in the aquifer sediments as atmospheric oxygen
invades the aquifer in response to lowering of the water level by
abstraction4,5. This explanation is not
consistent with the following observations3, made on 46 wells, typical
of those in Bangladesh, that were sampled during May and June, 1997: in
oxic (shallow) wells, arsenic concentrations are mostly below 50 m g l-
1; in anoxic waters, arsenic concentrations (= 260 m g l-1) correlate
with concentrations of dissolved iron (= 29 mg l-1) and bicarbonate (
Fig.1a); arsenic concentrations increase with depth in wells at
Manikganj, Faridpur, and Tungipara. These observations suggest that
arsenic is released when arseniferous iron-oxyhydroxides are reduced in
anoxic groundwater6, a process that solubilises iron, and its absorbed
load, and increases bicarbonate concentrations. Sedimentary iron
oxyhydroxides are known to scavenge arsenic7 and, in aquifer sediments,
concentrations of diagenetically-available iron (Ł 3.7%) and arsenic (Ł
26 ppm) correlate well3 (Fig.1b)". In 1999 another article written by
R.T. Nickson, J.M. McArthur, P. Ravenscroft, W.G. Burgess and K.M.
Ahmed entiled "Mechanism of Arsenic release to groundwater, Bangladesh
and West Bengal" was published by Applied Geochemistry 15(2000) 403-
413, 1999. The article was written based on the more chemical
parameters obtained from the same 46 wells and collected only once in
1997. They also listed chemical analyses of sediments obtained from two
very shallow soil borings drilled in Gopalgonj.
RELIABILITY OF SEDIMENT DATA:
The chemical parameters obtained from samples collected at ten
different depth between 1.8 m to 9.1 m below ground level from only two
borings in Gopalgonj. There is no report of sediment samples from any
other part of the country. They did not collect sediment samples within
the screening interval of 46 wells except for two wells in Gopalgonj.
There is no mention in their report of the depth to water (Please see
Table-1 & 2 of 1999 report). In a delta like Bangladesh lithofacies and
thickness change vertically and
laterally. A few samples from Gopalgonj can not be considered a
representative sample for the whole area of Bangladesh. Nickson et.al
mentioned the possibility of the oxidation of arsenic pyrites during the
lowering of the water table by pumping but believed the adsorption of
the arsenic by iron hydroxides would prevent contamination of the
groundwater by this mechanism. We do not accept this evaluation and do
believe that oxidation of arsenopyrite minerals has a real potential
for the cause. Apparently the contamination began after the mid
seventies and was caused by the lowering of water table. The lowering
of the water table produced chemical reactions that released arsenic
that contaminated the groundwater when reducing conditions returned
when the water table rose to it's normal level during the wet season.
Since then arsenic contaminants have migrated cross gradient and down
gradient along with the groundwater flow direction in the Bengal delta.
Increased irrigation required because of reduced flow of the rivers on
which dams were built resulted in the use of arsenic contaminated
groundwater which intern contaminated the soil.. Nickson et.al in their
study did not present any evidence that supports the presence of
arsenic contaminants in sediments as well as in groundwater in
Bangladesh prior to 1975. Their statements about the presence of
arsenic poisoning in Bengal delta for thousands of years is speculation
and is not supported by historical medical evidences presented in the
articles(When did the groundwater arsenic poisoning in Bangladesh
begin? Groundwater arsenic poisoning and a solution to the arsenic
disaster in Bangladesh; Oxyhydroxide Reduction and Agrochemical
hypotheses: Myth or reality?).
RELIABILITY OF GROUNDWATER CHEMICAL PARAMETERS:
Nickson et.al collected water samples in May and June of 1997 once from
each of 46 wells. In a 1998 publication they attributed the cause of
arsenic mobilization in groundwater to oxyhydroxide hypothesis and
justified it on the correlation between Fe, As and HCO3. In 1999 they
presented chemical parameters obtained from the same 46 wells. No
further samples were included from areas of high, low or arsenic free
areas of Bangladesh. Their data can not be considered a representative
sample for all of Bangladesh aquifer systems. However, the data from
the 46 wells obtained once in May and June of 1997 from this very small
area shows variations from one well to another.
Another group of scientists sampled 320 wells and they found that the
shallow wells are highly contaminated and the deep wells are
contaminant free. According to recent article entitled "Arsenic
Poisoning in the Ganges delta", published in Nature on 7 October, 1999
an opposite view to that of Nickson and Mc Arthur et.al. is presented.
Chowdhury, T.R. et.al.'s stated: "we disagree with Nickson et al.'s
claim that arsenic concentrations in shallow (oxic) wells are mostly
below 50 ug per liter. In our samples from Bangladesh (n=9,465), 59% of
the 7,800 samples taken at known depth and containing arsenic it over
arsenic 50 ug per liter ug per liter were collected from depths of less
than 30 m, and 67% of the 167 samples with arsenic concentrations above
1,000 ug per liter were collected from wells between 11 and 15.8 m deep.
In the Lakshmipur district of Bangladesh, three of the shallowest tube
wells (depths of 6.4 to 9.7 m) contained arsenic concentrations of over
1,000 ug per liter . The shallowest tubewell in Bangladesh is 6.4 m,
and at that depth in the village of Chandipur, at the Ramganj police
station, we found an arsenic concentration of 1,354 ug per liter. In
the Noakhali district, we found arsenic at 2,700 lLg per liter at a
depth of 9.7 m. As shown in Fig.1, many of the shallowest wells contain
more than 50 ug per liter r of arsenic. In West Bengal, (n=55,000), we
found arsenic above 50 ug per liter in 28% of wells that were less than
34 m deep. Furthermore, 37 of 38 samples with more than 1000 ug per
liter of arsenic were collected from depths shallower than 34 m.
Nickson et.al., reported that the arsenic concentration increases with
depth in wells at Manikgoanj, Faridpur and Tungipara, apparently on the
basis of only a small number of samples. From studies of 320 tubewells
in this areas, we find that arsenic concentration increases with depth
for depths of less than 22m and decreases at depth of over 22m(Fig.1),
and we have observed a similar trend in West Bengal. The British
Geological Survey has recently reported that deep tubewells are free of
arsenic in Bangladesh"
Dr. Dipakankar Chakraborti of India state that " Every time we make a
field survey we identify more and more arsenic affected villages in W.
Bengal and Bangladesh. We now have evidence that in some districts
arsenic contamination in groundwater is increasing. Many tubewells that
we colored green (safe to drink) are now arsenic contaminated". Dr.
Chakraborti in his comment on our article "When did the groundwater
arsenic poisoning in Bangladesh begin?" stated that "We now have
information of hundreds of tubewells which were safe earlier but are
now contaminated. Recently, in one of our studies in the Betai, Nadia
district we found 95% of the tubewells we colored green and told people
that they were safe to drink two years before are now predominantly
contaminated". Recently Dr. Chakraborti corresponded with a group in
the scientific community and provided some data on arsenic
concentrations collected in a small number of sampling events. The data
shows the recent hydro-chemical change occurring in the groundwater in
a limited area over a period of time. He stated stated that "(1) During
January 1997 we colored 167 hand tubewells green where we found arsenic
less than 10 ug/l in Betai (Nadia district of West Bengal) and told
people to drink that water. During December 1999, March 2000, June 2000
we measured the same samples (same instrument, same procedure for
collection and analysis) and found about 70% of the samples have
arsenic more than 50 ug/l and as high as 400 ug/l.
(2) During 31st August 1995 we had measured 50 samples from Jainagar
(South 24-Parganas, West Bengal, India) and colored some tubewells
green. We measured the same green tubewells on 15th July 2000. See the
change of arsenic concentration.
Samples No..... Concentration of arsenic (ug/l)
...............Concentration of arsenic (ug/l)
.......................... (measured on 06.05.1995)
..................(measured on 15.07.2000)
J-2
...........................................50...........................
....................................218
.................................................27.....................
..........................................201
..............................................<10.......................
........................................277
..............................................<10.......................
........................................121
..............................................<10.......................
........................................193
................................................42......................
.........................................126
..............................................<10.......................
........................................159
..............................................<10.......................
........................................207
Please see also the increase of arsenic to the shallow tubewells from
same village
Samples No......Concentration of arsenic (ug/l)
.................Concentration of arsenic (ug/l)
..........................(measured on 06.05.1995)
........................... (measured on 15.07.2000)
J-9 .........................................
107............................................................150
J-29..........................................
82............................................................184
J-
31..........................................72..........................
...................................247
J-
36........................................212...........................
....................................20
J-
37........................................275...........................
..................................504
J-
40........................................590...........................
..................................630
J-
4..........................................520..........................
...................................974
J-
47........................................265...........................
..................................638
(3) During November 1991 we reported village Mandra of Police Station
Purbasthali of Bardhaman district is contaminated and many patients
with arsenical skin lesions. However in nearby village Boldedanga,
tubewells were safe to drink less than 50 ug/l (Indian standard) and
there was no arsenic patient in that village. During July 1999 we came
to know many people in Boledanga village are affected. We went for
survey and we found 125 people are affected and were drinking from one
tube-well and the arsenic content in that tube-well is 460 ug/l. The
same tube-well we analyzed in November 1991 and found safe to drink."
These statements clearly indicate that geochemical changes are
occurring rapidly in the Bengal delta sediments and contaminating the
soil and groundwater. Groundwater systems are far more complex and
slower moving than surface water systems. Water resource system are
dynamic in nature. Surface and groundwater resources are integral parts
of the same hydro-geological whole. They respond both in quantity and
quality to natural changes and human activities such as diversion of
surface water and abstraction of groundwater etc. As a result, the
water chemistry changes with time when the water moves through the
changing environment. Geologists who are engaged in ground water
geology and have experience in the protection of the health, safety,
wealth and welfare of the people through the management of water
resources know how to protect the environment from contamination.
Monitoring hydro-chemical changes through time of the utmost
importance. In some areas the change is slow but in other areas where
environmental conditions have changed the change is rapid. The hydro-
chemical parameters are not uniform and constant in a deltaic
environment like Bangladesh. Human activities create conditions that
promote the migration of contaminants. For example the abstraction of
groundwater results in the lowering of water table level. The diversion
of water by Farakka and other dams has resulted in increased use of
groundwater and caused a significant lowering of the groundwater table
in the Bengal delta. The diversion of surface water, for the last 25
years by India, from about 30 rivers that flow into Bangladesh has
produced major environmental changes. In terms of flow, the Ganges
river was the eighth largest river in the world. Prior to 1975 the
average flow during the dry season at the Hardinge Bridge point in
Bangladesh was 2000 Cum/Sec. The present flow at this point due to
India's 25 years of unilateral diversion is only 400 Cum/sec.(Fig-1).
Besides abstraction of groundwater and diversion of surface water from
the common rivers of Bangladesh and India no other human or natural
cause is not known or occurred in Bangladesh that could have
destabilized the arsenic bearing minerals present in the sediments and
brought a significant geochemical change in the sediments and
groundwater in Bengal basin. Besides Farakka, the others dams that
India constructed on the common rivers of Bangladesh and India are
Feni, Muhuri, Selonia, Gomti, Sonai, Khowai, Dhalai, Manu, Juri, Sonai
Bardal, Kushiyara in the east, Piyan, Bhogai, Jinjiram, Dharla, Sangil,
Tista, Buri Tista, Deonai-Jamuneshwari, Ghoramara, Talma and Karatoa in
the north, and Ichamati-Kalindi, Benta-Kodalia, Bhairab-Kabodak,
Khukshi, Atrai, Punabhaba and Mahananda in the west of Bangladesh. (Map-
1).
Prior to 1975 most of the following problems occurring in Bangladesh
were not present and the severity of some of the problems that were
present prior to 1975 have greatly increased :1. arsenic poisoning of
groundwater, 2. severe floods(1988 and 1998), 3.depletion of surface
water resources, 4. depletion of groundwater resources, 5.
desertification, 6. extinction of aquatic species, 7. negative impact
on fish industry, 8. drop in organic matter content in the soil, 9.
destruction of agriculture and horticulture,10. inland saline water
intrusion, 11. loss of navigable waterways, 12. riverbank erosion, 13.
climate change, 14. loss of professions, 15. outbreak of environmental
diseases, 16. land subsidence (from water table lowering), and 17.
Social unsuitability due to symptoms of arsenic poisoning etc. The
diversion of surface water from the rivers and over use of groundwater
are the human activities largely responsible for destabilization and
destruction of the eco-system of Bengal basin and the environmental
problems in Bangladesh thus threatening the one of the oldest nation
(3000 thousands years old) in the world. The data presented by Nickson
et.al is small in comparison to data presented by Chowdhury's et.al.
Their studies do not show data collected from a set of observation
wells showing changes over a period of time. They did not explain how
the chemical parameters obtained from the 46 wells at one instant in
time and used in their study could be considered reliable and
representative for determining that the oxyhydroxide reduction process
is the main cause for the mobilization of arsenic into the groundwater.
AGE OF GROUNDWATER ARSENIC POISONING:
The DPHE/DFID/BGS/Mott McDonalled investigators in their report state
that: The arsenic is of geological origin and is probably only apparent
now because it is only in the last -30 years that groundwater has been
extensively used for drinking water in the rural areas. However, the
arsenic has probably been present in the groundwater for thousands of
years. It is difficult to say for sure whether it will get better or
worse with time but the likelihood is that any changes are likely to be
rather slow." The BGS scientists statement that arsenic has probably
been present for thousands of years is based on their theory of origin
for the arsenic. There is no evidence of arsenic poisoning prior to the
diversion of water by the dams and the beginning of increased pumping
of irrigation wells and tube wells. In 1948 about 50, 000 tube wells
were in use in the Bangladesh region (Public Health And Sanitation
Department, Dhaka, Bangladesh). From these wells thousands of infants,
children, young and old drank water. If the arsenic poisoning was
present for thousands of years and if the poisoning was related only
with the tube wells water use then the tube well water users would have
certainly been poisoned by arsenic prior to the nineteen seventy's.
We do not find sufficient evidence at the present time to prove any of
the suggested mechanisms for the source of arsenic that is polluting
the ground waters of the Bengal Delta. However, since contamination is
occurring in previously uncontaminated wells, the release of arsenic is
a result of something changing in the aquifer at the present time. We
therefore believe the mechanism that best explains the process
responsible for the liberation of arsenic to the groundwater is the
oxidation of arsenic pyrites or other arsenic bearing minerals
contained in organic deposits below the water table. The oxidation
occurs when draw down exposes these organic deposits above the water
table where atmospheric oxygen is present. The process is explained in
our previous articles. Reference (When did the groundwater arsenic
poisoning in Bangladesh begin? Groundwater arsenic poisoning and a
solution to the arsenic disaster in Bangladesh; Oxyhydroxide Reduction
and Agrochemical hypotheses: Myth or reality?).
CONCLUSION
1. The available data suggest that the groundwater arsenic poisoning in
Bangladesh is a recent environmental episode and it began after 1975.
The crisis appears to be directly related to the Farakka, Tista and 28
others dams/barrages that India constructed on the common rivers of
Bangladesh and India. The groundwater arsenic poisoning in Bangladesh
is a critical geological, hydrological, hydrogeological and geochemical
problem associated with the over use of groundwater and diversion of
surface water from rivers. The best solution to the arsenic disaster in
Bangladesh appears to be the restoration of the thousands of years old
natural environment by restoring the river flow and groundwater level
that existed prior to the 1975 commission of Farakka, Tista and other
barrages that India constructed on the common rivers of Bangladesh and
India. The natural groundwater level that existed prior to 1975 should
be restored by removing all dams/barrages that India constructed on the
common rivers of Bangladesh and India. The removal of dams/barrages and
the dredging of rivers will decrease the number of disasters in both
Bangladesh and in the upstream region of India. The flushing of arsenic
contaminants may take a long time but the removal of dams/barrages
affecting Bangladesh will provide plenty of water during the dry season
for drinking, irrigation and industry. The river water should be
filtered, treated, continually tested and delivered through a closed
system to provide a safe water supply for the nation.
2. Good potable water is a basic resource essential to the health and
economy of a nation. The first objective should be to find sources of
good potable water in every arsenic contaminated locality and deliver
that water in a safe and effective way. Continued monitoring of the
water is needed to prevent future contamination. An effective sewage
disposal system should accompany any deployment of water distribution
system. The people of arsenic affected areas must be provided with safe
water for drinking and cooking purposes on an emergency basis until a
long term solution is found. At the same time screening for arsenic
patients should be continued. The government of Bangladesh should
establish a divisional screening team in each division of Bangladesh
consisting of doctors from each Upazila/Thana and doctors from medical
schools of each division. The Thana/Upazila administration (Such as
Member of parliaments, Chairman, members, commissioners) should be
involved and help the Upazila doctors to effectively accomplish the
screening process and maintain a complete record of screening in each
union as well as Thana/Upazila. The screening information is vital for
the arsenic contamination study, treatment of arsenic impacted patients
and distribution of expensive safe water to the arsenic affected areas.
3. The groundwater arsenic poisoning is a geological problem. It is the
responsibility of geologists to find the source, cause and extent of
poisoning and develop remedial measures to protect the water resources.
Based on the geological data the engineers will then design the
remedial system for protecting the water resources, clean up the soil
and groundwater arsenic contamination and distribute clean and healthy
water to the nation. Therefore, we suggest that the Bangladesh
government form a national review committee consists of geologists,
hydrogeologists, hydrologists, geochemists, health engineer, and water
engineer . The committee should critically review the report prepared
by DPHE/DFID/BGS/Mott Mac Donald title" Groundwater arsenic
contamination study in Bangladesh". The committee should be free to
hire expert consultants to aid in the review of the report since this
is the only study ever carried out in Bangladesh on groundwater arsenic
poisoning by reputed professional organizations such as BGS and Mott
Mac Donald. On the other hand the arsenic crisis is a life and death
problem of Bangladeshi nation. Therefore, any study no matter who
conducts must be thorough and carefully executed to produce reliable
data in order to be effective.
4.. The available data indicate that the pyrite oxidation, other
chemical reactions, and or changes in the way water is obtained and
used in daily living is the cause of the groundwater arsenic poisoning
in Bangladesh. These changes appear to have been caused by recent
environmental changes. Pyrite oxidation could to be main mechanism for
the groundwater arsenic poisoning in Bangladesh but there is not enough
geological, hydrological, hydrogeological and geochemical data to
completely validate the process. A systematic and well organized
investigation must be conducted to determine the process or processes
controlling the release of arsenic to the groundwater resources. A
groundwater and soil, if the soils are found to be seriously
contaminated, remediation plan should be developed. The collecting of
reliable and representative data should clear up the confusion as to
the source of the arsenic and provide a guide to the action needed to
remedy the problem.
5. The arsenic crisis in Bangladesh is a serious problem and apparently
a man-made disaster that is threatening one of the oldest nation in
this world. Bangladesh is not in a position to solve the arsenic crisis
without the help of international community. The emergency clean water
supply to the affected areas as well as investigation, remediation,
monitoring of contaminated soil and groundwater could be very
expensive. The international community has the economic resources,
expertise, and technological know-how to solve the ground water arsenic
contamination problem and provide potable water to the people in
arsenic affected areas. This disaster is not caused by the invasion of
a foreign country and does not require the destruction of the
infrastructure and resources of any nation, however, the cost in human
lives and misery as a result of this natural or more likely a man made
disaster is as devastating to millions of people as any war. The money
required to pay for the cost of one day at war could save the lives of
millions of people affected by the deadly arsenic poisoning from
contaminated groundwater. The arsenic poisoning was apparently caused
by the misguided efforts of one country to improve the economy and
welfare of its people by constructing dams and developing water
diversion projects. Any time the natural environment is modified a new
equilibrium is established for all parameters involved. The
environmental changes caused by changing the natural flow of the rivers
along the common boarders of Bangladesh may be responsible for the
arsenic catastrophe of Bangladesh, the people of India living on the
Bengal Delta and for putting further stress on species in natural
preserves already endangered by man's activities.
On behalf of the people of Bangladesh, people of the affected areas of
India and the endangered species of the Delta we urge the international
community to take immediate steps to aid in solving the cause of the
arsenic poisoning, the reduction of water flow to some areas of the
delta and reversing the changes that brought on these problems.
Immediate action is needed to save the lives of millions of people and
protect the environment from further pollution and degradation.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:
Thanks are due to Mr. Tom Guilfoyel (Env. Geologist), Mr. Kurt Limesand
(Env. Geologist) and Ms. Mercia Schulmeister (Env. Geologist) of Kansas
Dept. of Health & Environment for providing us valuable information
about the arsenic contamination in Bengal Basin, Wisconsin and New
Mexico, U.S.A and information on the arsenic removal process from
groundwater. The authors would like to acknowledge the management of
"News From Bangladesh", Daily Star, Financial Express", The
Independent", "The Weekly Bangla Barta", "The Weekly Bangladesh",
Shetubhondhan, BEN, Alochana, The Wichita Eagle etc for publishing our
articles. We respectfully acknowledge the comments, questions from Dr.
John McArthur (UK), Peter Ravenscroft( UK), Dr.Gunnar Jacks( Sweden ),
Prof. Del Fenning (USA), Dr. Dipak Chakraborti(India ), Dr. Proson
Bhattacharya(Sweden), Prof. Richard Wilson(USA), Dr. Miah M. Adel(USA),
Dr. Arif Mohiuddin(Bangladesh), Mr.Jasim Uddin (geologist, Bangladesh),
Mr.Abul Bashar (geologist, Bangladesh). Very special thanks to Mr.
Tanvir Chowdhury, Editor "News From Bangladesh" for his sincere
cooperation for posting our articles in NFB. We respectfully
acknowledge all environmentally concerned peoples, organizations around
the world for their questions and comments about our work. We express
our sympathy for the arsenic affected people of Bangladesh and West
Bengal of India.
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