Millions of Bangladeshis have to use contaminated water daily

The poor have to use arsenic-contaminated water, while two decades ago, this substance has been known to cause cancer.

Bangladesh has failed in its efforts to implement the basic measures needed to solve the problems people have caused at least 43,000 people to die each year, Washington today cited Human Rights Watch (HRW). Most of the dead are poor.

According to HRW, many of Bangladesh's 20 million poor people have to use arsenic-contaminated water , a poison that can cause cancer.

The origin of the poisoning water problem in Bangladesh dates back to the 1970s when the government drilled many shallow water wells for people to use. But land in many parts of the country contains natural arsenic.

HRW said Bangladesh did not take specific measures to remove arsenic from the soil.

Millions of poor people in Bangladesh must use arsenic-contaminated water.(Photo: SCMP).

The United Nations World Health Organization calls the use of arsenic-contaminated water in Bangladesh the "greatest poison in the history of a human community".

Long-term exposure to arsenic can cause liver, kidney, bladder, skin and heart disease. However, HRW believes that many poor people in Bangladesh cannot access health services. Arsenic-contaminated water is also considered to be the reason for women to easily miscarry, low birth weight or poor cognitive development.

The organization claims millions of Bangladeshis will die if the government and international donors do not intervene soon.

Tariqul Islam, a researcher at the University of Chicago, USA, said arsenic is a slow toxic poison, and the victim will suffer from a series of life-threatening illnesses before realizing the cause.

The Bangladesh government has said it drilled 21,000 deep-water wells to overcome the situation and is testing some shallow drilled wells with clean water.

However, an unnamed Bangladesh official revealed that legislators decided where 50% of government-sponsored boreholes would be located. They often place clean water wells where there are many supporters, instead of bringing wells to the worst-affected areas.

According to scientists, humans cannot perceive arsenic in water through senses. Even clear water and a clean feeling can still contain this poison. Boiling and filtering germs cannot remove arsenic, manganese and some other heavy metals.

Arsenic is 4 times more toxic than mercury and affects the circulatory and nervous systems. If poisoned slowly, depending on the degree of toxicity and physical condition of each person, illness may occur such as hair loss, nausea, weight loss, cancer, memory loss.