the world arsenic catastrophe: what should we do? lecture at university of british columbia 7.00 pm,...
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The world arsenic The world arsenic Catastrophe:Catastrophe:
What should we do?What should we do?Lecture at
University of British Columbia
7.00 pm, Monday October 24th 2005
comments by
Richard WilsonMallinckrodt Research Professor of Physics
Harvard University
http://arsenic.wshttp://phys4.harvard.edu/~wilson/arsenic_project_introduction.html
30,000,000 exposed in Bangladesh
above US EPA standard
A catastrophe that makes Chernobyl look like a Sunday School picnic!
others in: West Benglal
NepalThailandVietnamPakistan
How do we help Bangaldesh?
Three simultaneous actions
How does arsenic get there and can we predict avoidance measures?
Harvey, MIT, McArthur, UCL, van Geen Columbia, F.Ahmed, BUET
what does arsenic do?what are the risk factors? Diet (Betel nuts)?
Selenium?Graziani, Columbia, Christiani, Harvard,Smith
Berkeleya factor of 2 maybe
How can we help the people NOW?
I will address the last
Three vital items
(1) Make sure measurements of arsenic and coliform bacteria are
regular and accurate
(2) work with local cummunity - they must make
decisions and follow up and
(3) get funds direct to villagers (avoid sticky fingers
as much as possible)
1998 (DCH conference)urged immediate action:
(1) Measure every wellGreen for OK
Red for dont 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 only partially successful
30% of people switched wells67% switched when a massive
education campaign (Columbia-U.Dhaka)
Some wells badly labeledPerhaps status of wells changed
Uncritical use of Arsenic Removal Systems (ARS)
has been a disaster.In West Bengal several
hundred have been installed. 80% are not functional.
(6th report: Jadavpur University)
John Macarthur (UCL) agrees.
DCH tests also give only small reduction
NOT a long term solution
Deep wells are probably fed from the Himalaya
further north. Badly installed wells
could bring water down from upper aquifer.
Again, measure and understand
Deep wells (below the clay layer) look very
goodIF they are grouted
probably and probably not in Jessore (no clay layer)
Cheapest solutionat minimum they should
work for 10-20 years
Professor Charles Harvey (MIT) thinks
the problem is pumping water from anoxic region.(Long shot)Possible Solution:
Pump concentrated oxidants into the well.
Works for a week; being tried with massive
amounts of oxidants early next year
Bangladesh Policy Use surface water when
possibleWe must avoid bacteria
and know we have avoided bacteria
Rainwater CollectionImproved (sanitary)
DugwellsPond Sand FiltersRiver Sand FiltersKey is measurement
Cheapest when a large number supplied from one unit
Dhaka Community Hospital
has been installing
Sanitary surface “dugwells”Covered;
WHO standards; measured regularly
More recently pumped to tank and pipeline
to give running waterVERY POPULAR
Find out who knows what he is doing
(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.
Why is it taking so long?Where is the bottleneck?
Maybe the set up of village committees
If so, go at once to tank and pipeline even though a bit more
expensive
Villagers (especially women) like it
The whole job can be done for
ONLY $300 million!
30 cruise missiles!
Meanwhile please support the public foundation of
your choiceDugwell Foundation
http://www.dugwellfoundationusa.org
(Meera Smith)
Arsenic Foundationhttp://arsenicfoundation.com
(Richard Wilson)