Environmental, economic and health perspectives of arsenic toxicity in Bengal Delta

ABSTRACT
Arsenic is a metalloid of great environmental concern because of its highly toxic nature and
wide abundance. Arsenic contamination in groundwater has been reported in Bangladesh, India,
China, Taiwan, Vietnam, USA, Argentina, Chile and Mexico. The clinical symptoms of arsenic
toxicity in human body include skin itching to sun rays, burning and watering of the eyes, weight loss,
loss of appetite, weakness, fatigue, limited physical activities and working capacities, chronic
respiratory problems, moderate to severe anemia etc. The Bengal basin is regarded to be the most
acutely arsenic infested geological province in the world. Heavy withdrawal of groundwater for
fulfilling the needs of the increasing population in Bengal Basin resulted in increased arsenic level in
the groundwater. Mobilization of arsenic in Bengal delta is further interfered by microbial activities
and interactions. Different microbial strains have been isolated from Bengal Delta which can tolerate,
transform and resist arsenic. The use of arsenic contaminated groundwater for irrigation purpose in
crop fields elevates arsenic concentration in surface soil and in the plants grown in these areas. Several
plant species have been studied for their ability to accumulate arsenic in the Bengal Delta. Rice is
generally grown in submerged flooded condition, where arsenic bioavailability is high in soil. As
arsenic species are very much toxic to plants and can execute oxidative stresses, they can also affect
the overall production of rice and other vegetables, and can affect the agricultural and economic
development of Bengal Basin. Cattle population also consume arsenic infested water in those areas
and usually eat edible plants contaminated with arsenic, which, in turn, can further increase the
toxicity level in their bodies and also can increase the arsenic bioaccumulation in meat and milk. In the
rural areas of the Bengal Delta, arsenic contamination raised a number of social problems which are
continuously weakening the structural integrity of rural society. Uses of phytoremediation and
microbial remediation technologies, rainwater harvesting, use of arsenic resistant plant varieties for
cultivation are some sustainable methods which can be applied for arsenic remediation. Besides, nanoagglomerates of mixed oxides have been synthesized and successfully employed for arsenic removal
from aqueous solutions. Intensive investigation on a complete food chain is urgently needed in the
arsenic contaminated zones, which should be our priority in future researches.

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