To know if the water is contaminated with arsenic

Currently, in Hanoi and some surrounding areas, many households are very worried that domestic water has arsenic and how to recognize it, as well as how to handle if it is not clean.

According to Dr. Tran Hong Con, Department of Chemical Technology, Hanoi University of Science, Hanoi National University cannot recognize 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.

According to the World Health Organization, the amount of arsenic in water below 10 ppb is considered safe for users. To know exactly whether or not our home country is safe for eating, households can bring water samples to check directly at the Department of Chemistry, Natural University , 19 Le Thanh Tong, Hanoi. Dr. Con said that for households, kindergartens can be tested for free water samples, and if they have to check many water samples of many households, the fee is only about 50,000 VND / sample.

In addition, households can take water samples for analysis at the Institute of Environmental Technology at 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Hanoi or Center for Environmental Technology, University of Natural Sciences, 334 Nguyen Trai, Thanh Xuan, Hanoi.

Department of Chemistry Analysis - Spectroscopy (Institute of Geology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology) has also researched and fabricated successfully a rapid test of arsenic concentration in water.This method takes only 7 minutes to know whether or not the water is contaminated with arsenic.

When you know that your family's water is contaminated with arsenic above the permitted level, you can use the equipment that has been studied and recognized as being able to filter arsenic such as: domestic arsenic water filter of collective staff. Chemistry, Hanoi Natural University, or refer to the model of the Center for Rural Water Sanitation in Ha Tay with 1 layer of coarse-grained golden sand 50 cm thick, the bottom is 10 cm thick pebble layer to filter; At the same time there is a simple rain sprinkler with PVC pipe. This filter will eliminate 90% of arsenic in water.

In addition, domestic scientists are studying new methods introduced by German scientists to use reeds in mud to treat sulfur and arsenic wastewater or to use ferns to Filter arsenic from surface water.

Yen Minh