ASSESSMENT OF ARSENIC AND MINERAL ELEMENTS IN NATURAL WATER OF GOPALGANJ DISTRICT IN BANGLADESH

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the ionic status and relationship of As with other ions of groundwater in 3 Upazila (Gopalganj sadar, Tungipara and Katalipara) of Gopalganj district. A total of 65 water samples from different village of three upazilas were collected during March to April 2009. The samples were chemically analyzed and classified on the basis of their comparative suitability for irrigation and see the relationship between As and other ions. The chemical analysis included pH, EC, Ca, Mg, K, Na, Fe, Mn, Cu, P, B, As and S. On the basis of pH water samples were neutral to slightly alkaline and suitable for irrigation. On the basis of Mn and Mg contents. The samples were not problematic. Results showed that not a single sample was free from arsenic contamination though their concentration varied with the locations. The higher As concentration was recorded as 0.20 mg L” at Boragitola village in sadar upazila and the lowest 0.01 mg L" at Krisnopur village in sadar with the mean value of As concentration being 0.07 mg L’'. The highest As concentration was about four times higher and the mean As concentration was 0.02 mg L" higher than the maximum permissible limit for drinking water (0.05 mg L’'), respectively. The As concentration of groundwater of samples were higher than the maximum permissible limit in all upazilas. Significant relationship was found between As and other elements like P, S, B, Cu, and Mg. The highest correlation co-efficient (r) value was obtained with As vs Cu (r = -0.484). A conclusion can be made that groundwater may be a good factor for As contamination in soils as well as crops.