Groundwater arsenic calamity in Bangladesh

The arsenic-affected areas of West Bengal are lying on a sediment of Younger Deltaic Deposition (YDD). The same sediment extends eastwards towards Bangladesh, covering the approximate area of 34 districts out of a total of 64 districts in Bangladesh, We suspect that the groundwater of these 34 districts of Bangladesh may be arsenic-contaminated. So far, we have collected 3106 water samples for analysis from 28 out of these 34 districts and in 27 districts 38% of the water samples we had analysed contain arsenic above 0.05 mg/l, Area and population of these 27 districts are 51,000 km(2) and 36 million respectively, Out of these 27 districts, so far, we have surveyed 20 districts for arsenic patients, and in 18 districts we have identified people having arsenical skin lesions such as melanosis, leucomelanosis, keratosis, hyperkeratosis, dorsum, non-petting oedema, gangrene and skin cancer, During our preliminary field survey in 45 arsenic-affected villages in 18 districts, from a random examination of 1630 people, including children, 57.5% have arsenical skin-lesions, While comparing the West Bengal arsenic scenario with the available data of Bangladesh, it appears that Bangladesh's arsenic calamity may be more severe, If our prediction that the ground-water of Bangladesh's 34 district is likely to be arsenic-contaminated comes true, then more than 50 million people would be at risk, To combat the situation, Bangladesh needs a proper utilization of its vast surface and rain water resources, Proper watershed management is required urgently.