The Nature, Extent, Health Risks, and Treatment of Metal-Affected Drinking Water in Bangladesh

1
Great Advice from Dr. Bouldin
Take as much math, chemistry, and physics as you
can stomach.
2

• Dr. Bouldin, Dr. Fay, and I made an instrument
  for measuring bicarbonate (HCO3-) and carbonate
  (CO32-) in waters that could not be titrated.
• This experience let me work with a wide variety
  of instruments in laboratories around the world.

3

• In this example, Im using a gas chromatograph to
  direct the excavation of contaminated soil at a
  Superfund Site.

4

• I also helped make the first national-scale map
  of arsenic-affected drinking water in Bangladesh.
• This map showed that tens of millions of
  Bangladeshis are at risk of death from skin,
  bladder, liver, and lung cancers caused by
  chronic arsenic poisoning.

Keratosis of the feet
Blackfoot disease
Keratosis of the palms (Photograph by Dhaka
Community Hospital and Richard Wilson, 2002)
Map of arsenic concentration (mg/L)
Melanosis of the chest
5
More Great Advice from Dr. Bouldin
Just because an instrument gives you a number
doesnt mean that its right.
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The performance of our laboratory in Bangladesh.
Analyte Independent Standard Recovery (Analyte Added to Distilled Water) Sample Matrix Spike Recovery (Analyte Added to Drinking Water)
Arsenic (As) 83 89 ? 11
Ferrous iron (Fe2) 93 ? 10 34 ? 23
Total iron (Fe) 95 Not measured, at least 27 of samples developed the wrong color.

• At least 27 of the drinking water wells in
  Bangladesh apparently contain an analytical
  interference to the 1,10-phenanthroline methods
  for measuring ferrous iron and total iron.
• This was the first indication that non-arsenic
  toxins are widely distributed in Bangladeshs
  drinking water.

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Map of manganese (Mn) concentration (mg/L).

• 50 of Bangladeshs area contains groundwater
  with Mn concentrations greater than the WHO
  drinking water guideline.
• Manganese in drinking water is a potent
  neurotoxin, associated with violent behaviors and
  depression. It causes learning disabilities in
  children and Parkinson's-like symptoms in adults.
• It causes liver and kidney damage, and is
  associated with hearing loss.

8
Map of lead (Pb) concentration (mg/L).

• 3 of Bangladeshs area contains groundwater with
  Pb concentrations greater than the WHO drinking
  water guideline.
• Lead is a potent neurotoxin, associated with IQ
  deficits and learning disabilities in children
  and dementia in adults.
• It is also associated with kidney, liver, and
  heart disease, tooth loss, cataracts,
  hypertension, diabetes, and bladder cancer.

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Map of nickel (Ni) concentration (mg/L).

• lt 1 of Bangladeshs area contains groundwater
  with Ni concentrations greater than the WHO
  drinking water guideline.
• Nickel is a potent carcinogen.
• It is also associated with lung, heart, and
  kidney disease and can induce spontaneous
  abortions.

10
Map of total chromium (Cr) concentration (mg/L).

• lt 1 of Bangladeshs area contains groundwater
  with Cr concentrations greater than the WHO
  drinking water guideline.
• Cr(III) is the form most often found in drinking
  water. Chronic exposure inhibits DNA synthesis
  and the fidelity of DNA replication.
• Cr(III) accumulates in the liver persons with
  existing liver disease may be exceptionally
  susceptible to its toxic effects.

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Estimated number of Bangladeshis drinking water
with metal concentrations above WHO guidelines.
Metal Carcinogenic Potential WHO Guideline (µg/L) Percent of Bangladeshs Area Exceeding WHO Guideline Number of Bangladeshis Drinking Unsafe Water a
As Mn Pb Ni Cr Known carcinogen Noncarcinogen Possible carcinogen Probable carcinogen Noncarcinogen 10 500 10 20 50 49 50 3 lt 1 lt 1 65,000,000 66,000,000 4,000,000 lt 1,300,000 lt 1,300,000
a Assuming Bangladesh has 137,000,000 people and
97 of its population drinks well water.

• Tens of millions of Bangladeshis are drinking
  water that exceeds WHO health-based guidelines
  for As, Mn, Pb, Ni, and Cr.
• Chronic arsenic poisoning is the most significant
  health risk.
• Multimetal health effects are possible.

12
Even More Great Advice from Dr. Bouldin
Others paid for your graduate education. Repay
the debt. Use science to solve problems.
13
Testing Can Provide Safe Water to Millions
Map of average arsenic concentration (mg/L).
Map of minimum arsenic concentration (mg/L).

• 45 of Bangladeshs neighborhoods contain
  groundwater with average arsenic concentrations
  greater than the 50-µg/L national standard.
• 15 of Bangladeshs neighborhoods contain
  groundwater with minimum arsenic concentrations
  greater than this standard.
• Therefore, 85 of Bangladeshs neighborhoods have
  at least 1 tubewell that does not require
  treatment for arsenic removal prior to drinking.

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Testing Can Provide Safe Water to Millions

• As a result of this discovery, groundwater
  testing has become a major component of an
  overall strategy for providing safe drinking
  water to the people of Bangladesh.
• Tubewells are considered safe and marked with
  green paint if the arsenic concentration is less
  than or equal to the 50-µg/L national standard.
• Conversely, tubewells are considered unsafe and
  marked with red paint if the arsenic
  concentration is greater than 50 µg/L.

(Photograph by The World Bank Group, 2005)
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Testing Can Provide Safe Water to Millions

• Bangladesh has limited access to sophisticated
  instruments for measuring As and must use a less
  protective 50-µg/L drinking water standard.
• Over 120,000 cancer deaths would be prevented if
  Bangladesh could use the more protective 10-µg/L
  WHO drinking water guideline.
• Our team developed the only method that can
  accurately, precisely, and safely measure As to
  less than the 10-µg/L WHO drinking water
  guideline without expensive or highly specialized
  equipment.

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Thank you Dr. Bouldin!
Thank you Dr. Bouldin!
Thank you Dr. Bouldin!
Thank you Dr. Bouldin!
17
Dr. Bouldins Legacy Continues
Take as much math, chemistry, and physics as you
can stomach.
18
Sources

• Primary
• Frisbie, S.H., D.M. Maynard, and B.A. Hoque.
  1999. The nature and extent of arsenic-affected
  drinking water in Bangladesh. In Metals and
  Genetics. Ed. by B. Sarkar. Plenum Publishing
  Company. New York, NY. Pp. 67-85.
• Frisbie, S.H., R. Ortega, D.M. Maynard, and B.
  Sarkar. 2002. The concentrations of arsenic and
  other toxic elements in Bangladeshs drinking
  water. Environmental Health Perspectives.
  110(11)1147-1153.
• Frisbie, S.H., E.J. Mitchell, A.Z. Yusuf, M.Y.
  Siddiq, R.E. Sanchez, R. Ortega, D.M. Maynard,
  and B. Sarkar. 2005. The development and use of
  an innovative laboratory method for measuring
  arsenic in drinking water from western
  Bangladesh. Environmental Health Perspectives.
  113(9)1196-1204.
• Secondary
• Dhaka Community Hospital, and R. Wilson.
  Pictures of Sufferers (Chronic Arsenic
  Poisoning). Available http//phys4.harvard.edu/
  wilson/arsenic_project_pictures2.html cited 7
  September 2002.
• The World Bank Group, 2005. Available
  http//wbln1018.worldbank.org cited 22 February
  2005.