Arsenic in Bangladesh A project integrating hydrogeology and geochemistry, and bits and pieces of many other fields I used this topic for a senior capstone course for ½ semester (8 weeks) I got the idea Martin Stute (Barnard), who prepared a SERC activity on data analysis of As Bangladesh

Problem: Arsenic concentrations in groundwater are elevated in Bangladesh Population moved to gw starting in 70s Arsenic in gw discovered in 80s Arsenic toxic and carcinogenic Drinking water stds WHO/EPA/EU 10 ug/L Bangladesh 50 ug/L Tens of millions of people have been exposed to elevated As in Bdesh Problem exists in fluvial-deltaic aquifers all over S/SE Asia

For the capstone, I posed these main questions: Where does the As come from? Read and analyze geologic background How does the As get into water? Read literature on geochemical reactions Present and discuss which is most likely What are ways to mitigate the problem? Read about ways to mitigate As Present and discuss cost-benefits of methods Discuss social issues: economics, culture

Exercises: can do individually or group together Data analysis (As data from BGS; available online) Use ArcGIS to make map of As, geo/hydrography overlays Conduct statistical analysis and graph data with Excel Reading: British Geologic Survey report on background Journal articles about As release, mitigation methods Presentation/debate/group work: Group presentations on As release theories. Group presentations on mitigation methods. Debate after each set of presentations. Writing: Research proposal on topic of interest useful/important for further understanding the problem.

This topic gives the opportunity to bring in social science aspects too… Most students have heard of Bdesh (recent factory fires/collapses) but don’t know much else about it Background on Bangladesh – population, size, health, education, GNP, government, economics geography, how rivers drain Himalayas, use Google Earth images Other topics: climate (monsoonal May-Oct), agriculture (rice, dry season irrigation), diet (rice)…