Source of Bangladesh water poisoning traced after decades-long search
Researchers have traced the source of mass poisoning in rural Bangladesh which has been causing deaths and has affected millions over the past three decades.
Scientists had earlier discovered the presence of high arsenic content in drinking water in the villages but were unable to discover from where it came.
The new study shows man-made ponds, dug to provide soil for flood protection, fuel a higher concentration of arsenic in drinking water drawn from wells.
The ponds and irrigated fields are the main source of groundwater recharging in most villages, the research team led by Charles Harvey of Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston, Massachusetts found.
People have been drinking water from the wells, ironically constructed by aid agencies to provide safe drinking water, despite knowing about the presence of the poison, due to a lack of an alternative.
Around two million people in the country suffer from arsenic poisoning. Some of the common symptoms of poisoning include stomach pain, diarrhoea and cramps. Higher doses can cause sudden death.
The finding suggests that digging deeper may avert the problem as the water from the man-made ponds cannot seep too deep into the ground.
