ABSTRACT
Arsenic (As) in groundwater and its fate and transport in the environment have become matters of great concern in Bangladesh. Tube-well water extracted in Bangladesh from shallow aquifers is the primary source of drinking/cooking water for most of its population. Besides domestic use, huge quantities of water from shallow aquifer are also used for irrigation during the dry season. Since its detection in late 1993 in Bangladesh, much of the research works on As have focused on its presence in and exposure through drinking/cooking water (Yousuf et al. 2001). However, widespread use of groundwater for irrigation suggests that ingestion of irrigated crops could be another major exposure route for As. Another major concern is the phytotoxicity due to increased As in soil/water and its long-term impact on agricultural yield is another major concern (Ali et al. 2003). Limited studies have been conducted to assess the presence of As in the food chain (Meharg et al. 2001, Huq et al. 2001, Duxbury et al. 2002, Abedin et al. 2002). The country is heavily dependent on its agricultural sector for its gross domestic products (GDP). More than 80% of the population depends on agriculture for its livelihood. The agricultural sector employs about 90% of rural males as well as 80% of rural females of the country (BBS 1998). To become self-sufficient in food grain, Bangladesh government has encouraged production of High Yielding Variety (HYV) rice, which requires a large volume of irrigation water. The use of groundwater for irrigation has increased abruptly over the last couple of decades. About 86% of the total groundwater withdrawn is utilized in agricultural sector (BADC 2000). The use of As contaminated irrigation waters in Bangladesh may cause accumulation of As in rice and rice plants and this issue needs to be examined.
