The world The world arsenic arsenic Catastrophe: Catastrophe: University of Illinois Friday April 7th 2006 Richard Wilson Mallinckrodt Research Professor of Physics Harvard University http://arsenic.ws http://phys4.harvard.edu/~wilson/ arsenic_project_introduction.html
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The world arsenic Catastrophe: University of Illinois Friday April 7th 2006 Richard Wilson Mallinckrodt Research Professor of Physics Harvard University.
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The world arsenic The world arsenic Catastrophe:Catastrophe:
University of IllinoisFriday April 7th 2006
Richard WilsonMallinckrodt Research Professor of Physics
Stripping Voltammetry (ASV), Hydride Generation and Graphite Furnace
Atomic Absorption and Fluorescence Spectroscopy
(HG, GF, AAS/ AFS), and Total Reflection X-Ray Fluorescence
Spectroscopy (TRXRF)
FIELD kits (Gutzeit method)Arsine generation and color change
HACH kit works butmany field workers bad
NEED A GOOD LAB IN EACH UNION
DCH
My recommendation to the Government of Bangladesh
Find out which (NGO) is doing a competent job(Discuss on web, conferences,
WHO etc)
Get money direct to them
Even if not economically the “best”
doing nothing is expensive especially in good will.
1998 (DCH conference)urged immediate action:
(1) Measure every wellGreen for OK
Red for don’t useEncourage well switching
(2) Purify Water at House levelwith simple equipment
(3) Encourage deep wells (below clay layer)
(4) Encourage solutions that lead to the long term
Labelling wells was partially successful
30% of people switched wells but ~10 million people helped!
67% switched when a massive education campaign (Columbia-U.Dhaka)
Some wells badly labeledPerhaps status of wells changed
MY CONCLUSION BETTER EDUCATION CAMPAIGN NEEDED
on switching
Uncritical use of Arsenic Removal Systems (ARS)
May even be counterproductive.
AN OLD REMEDY
So Moses brought Israel from the Red Sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness and found no water. And when they came to Marah they could not drink of the waters of Marah for they were bitter. And they murmered against Moses saying “What shall we drink?” and he cried unto the Lord; and the Lord showed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters , the waters were made sweet”Exodus 15:22-5
• In West Bengal several hundred have been installed.
80% are not functional.• (6th report: Jadavpur University)
BUT they seem to work when there is “backup”
• Sengupta of Bengal College
• SONO filters near Kushtia•
DCH tests have not been as good as hoped
• Also NOT a long term solution
Deep wells have worked in Dhaka for a long time!
Badly installed wells could bring water down
from upper aquifer.
BUT 98% likely to work at least 20 years
Maybe for ever.
Long shot:Professor Charles Harvey
(MIT) thinksthe problem is pumping
water from anoxic region.Possible Solution:Pump concentrated
oxidants into the well. Works for a week;
tried with massive amounts of oxidants January 2006.