Assessment of two arsenic-contaminated drinking water mitigation interventions in Bangladesh

Ng, Jack Chakmeng, Hasnat Milton, Abul, Smith, Wayne, Dear, Keith, Caldwell, Bruce, Sim, Malcolm, Ranmuthugala, Geetha, Lokuge, Kamalini M., Shraim, Amjad, Huang, Shu-Huei and Moore, Michael R. (2006). Assessment of two arsenic-contaminated drinking water mitigation interventions in Bangladesh. In: J. Kniewald, Toxicology Letters: Abstracts of the EUROTOX 2006/6 CTDC Congress. 43rd Congress of the European Societies of Toxicology & 6th Congress of Toxicology in Developing Countries, Cavtat, Croatia, (S192-S193). 20-24 September, 2006.


Author Ng, Jack Chakmeng
Hasnat Milton, Abul
Smith, Wayne
Dear, Keith
Caldwell, Bruce
Sim, Malcolm
Ranmuthugala, Geetha
Lokuge, Kamalini M.
Shraim, Amjad
Huang, Shu-Huei
Moore, Michael R.
Title of paper Assessment of two arsenic-contaminated drinking water mitigation interventions in Bangladesh
Conference Paper Type Published Abstract
Conference name 43rd Congress of the European Societies of Toxicology & 6th Congress of Toxicology in Developing Countries
DOI 10.1016/j.toxlet.2006.07.058
Conference location Cavtat, Croatia
Conference dates 20-24 September, 2006
Proceedings title Toxicology Letters: Abstracts of the EUROTOX 2006/6 CTDC Congress  (ERA 2012 Listed)    (ERA 2010 Rank B)   Check publisher's open access policy
Journal name Toxicology Letters  (ERA 2012 Listed)    (ERA 2010 Rank B)   Check publisher's open access policy
Editor J. Kniewald
Place published Amsterdam
Publisher Elsevier/North-Holland
Publication date 2006
Volume number 164
Issue number 1
ISSN 0378-4274
Start page S192
End page S193
Total pages 2
Language eng
Abstract/Summary Arsenic is a carcinogen. In Bangladesh, there are over 10 million tube-wells of which about 50% have arsenic concentrations exceeding the WHO recommended guideline value of 10 μg/L for drinking water. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of two relatively inexpensive mitigation interventions, three-pitcher filters and dug-wells. A randomised controlled field trial was conducted in Natore. Six Hundred and forty participants, 60 clusters of 47 villages were included in the trial. Two hundred and six participants were selected for the control group, 218 participants for the dug-wells, and 216 participants for the three-pitcher filters. The average arsenic in the drinking water was 128 μg/L in the three-pitcher trial. Twelve months post intervention, about 30% of the filtered water samples were >50 μg/L whereas dug-well water was <10 μg/L. Urinary arsenic speciation by HPLC-ICP-MS was utilised to assess the internal dose of arsenic prior to and during the interventions. One month after the trial, urinary arsenic did not significantly differ between the three-pitcher group and the control group, but the dug-well group was slightly lower compared to the control group. By 12 months there were no significant differences between the treatment groups and the control group. Compliance in the dug-well group was about 20%, and dropped from an initial 84% to 20% in the three-pitcher group. Low compliance was thought to be a major confounder. Our results raise a question about the social acceptability of these intervention technologies and their ultimate health benefit. Large scale watershed management program by utilizing the vast surface water that exists in Bangladesh is a future priority to deliver a better public health outcome.
Subjects CX
321299 Public Health and Health Services not elsewhere classified
730299 Public health not elsewhere classified
111705 Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety
0502 Environmental Science and Management
Q-Index Code CX

 
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