Professor Abul Hassam and inventing arsenic filtration for well water

With the invention of arsenic filtration system for low-cost and easy-to-use well water, Abul Hassam chemistry professor at George Mason University won the $ 1 million Grainger 2007 Challenge by the National Academy of Engineering. American family awarded. Currently, more than 30,000 of his professor of arsenic filters are being used in Bangladesh - his hometown - contributing to reducing the risk of arsenic-borne diseases from drinking water.

Professor Adul Hassam is pouring water into arsenic filtration system.(Photo: Baocantho)

Mr. Hassam moved to the United States in 1978 and then took a doctorate in analytical chemistry. Since then, he prioritizes spending time on finding solutions to the problem of arsenic-contaminated wells in Bangladesh and India. According to him, international aid agencies are not aware that groundwater in new wells with high levels of arsenic causes poisoning. When the incidence of infection spread through dirty water, arsenic-related skin diseases, cancer and death, began to increase in South Asian countries in the 1990s.

Allan Smith, an epidemiologist at the University of California, said the problem of arsenic poisoning is affecting millions of people worldwide and it is difficult to convince people that a water looks clean and can be deadly.

Realizing the harmful effects of arsenic on health, Professor Hassam spent many years experimenting with hundreds of filtration systems before going to the final invention. It is a simple system that does not require maintenance costs using sand, coal, bricks and scrap iron. About 200 filtration systems are being made each week in Bangladesh at a cost of 40 USD / piece. Professor Hassam intends to use 25% of the bonus to invest in further research on the harmful effects of arsenic and the rest to donate filters to poor communities around the world.

THAI AN