Harmful arsenic found in Terai water

Harmful arsenic found in Terai water

The Rising Nepal, 11 June 2006

Chemicals bearing the harmful arsenic has been found in high quantities in12 districts of Terai region of Nepal.

It was informed at a two- day training on ?health hazards of arsenic? media persons jointly organized here Wednesday by the NRCS Parsa and the Environment and Public Health Institution (EPHI) Kathmandu.

The EPHI has in a study in 20 districts found that some 400,000 people drink arsenic filled water. Water with upto 50-ppb of arsenic is said to be normal.

The study showed Kanchanpur, Kailali, Bardia, Banke, Kapilbastu, Rupandehi, Nawalparasi, Parsa, Bara, Rautahat, Dhanusha and Siraha have water with high arsenic. Out of some 20,192 patients, some 590 are arsenic patients, and of them 401 are men and 189 women.

Engineer of the EPHI, Bipin Dangol said Pipara of Birgunj-17, has the highest or 500 ppb arsenic level. But in deep tubewells (deeper than 100 metres), no remarkable arsenic is found.

Although, WHO has fixed 10 ppb as bearable quantity for man, Nepal has fixed 50 ppb.

The most effective and cheap means of filtering arsenic is the Kanchan filter, NRCS Parsa President Shyam Kumar Pokhrel said, adding this domestic technology is very much reliable and scientific.

It costs Rs. 1,500 and is distributed by the NRCS and EPHI at Rs. 300. Plans are to distribute such filters to the Dalits and backward people free of cost.

NRCS Parsa Secretary Fulmahammad Miya and Deputy Secretary Ram Narayan Prasad Kurmi demanded powerful policies and programmes to fight arsenic.

Source::http://nepal-environment.blogspot.com/2006/06/harmful-arsenic-found-in-terai-water.html