The world arsenic Catastrophe: What should we do? Lecture at University of British Columbia 7.00 pm, Monday October 24th 2005 comments by Richard Wilson Mallinckrodt Research Professor of Physics Harvard University

30,000,000 exposed in Bangladesh above US EPA standard A catastrophe that makes Chernobyl look like a Sunday School picnic! others in: West Benglal Nepal Thailand Vietnam Pakistan How do we help Bangaldesh?

Three simultaneous actions How does arsenic get there and can we predict avoidance measures? Harvey, MIT, McArthur, UCL, van Geen Columbia, F.Ahmed, BUET what does arsenic do? what are the risk factors? Diet (Betel nuts)? Selenium? Graziani, Columbia, Christiani, Harvard,Smith Berkeley a factor of 2 maybe How can we help the people NOW? I will address the last

Three vital items (1) Make sure measurements of arsenic and coliform bacteria are regular and accurate (2) work with local cummunity - they must make decisions and follow up and (3) get funds direct to villagers (avoid sticky fingers as much as possible)

1998 (DCH conference) urged immediate action: (1) Measure every well Green for OK Red for dont use Encourage well switching (2) Purify Water at House level with simple equipment (3) Encourage deep wells (below clay layer) (4) Encourage solutions that lead to the long term

Labelling wells was only partially successful 30% of people switched wells 67% switched when a massive education campaign (Columbia-U.Dhaka) Some wells badly labeled Perhaps status of wells changed

Uncritical use of Arsenic Removal Systems (ARS) has been a disaster. In West Bengal several hundred have been installed. 80% are not functional. (6th report: Jadavpur University) John Macarthur (UCL) agrees. DCH tests also give only small reduction NOT a long term solution

Deep wells are probably fed from the Himalaya further north. Badly installed wells could bring water down from upper aquifer. Again, measure and understand

Deep wells (below the clay layer) look very good IF they are grouted probably and probably not in Jessore (no clay layer) Cheapest solution at minimum they should work for years

Professor Charles Harvey (MIT) thinks the problem is pumping water from anoxic region. (Long shot) Possible Solution: Pump concentrated oxidants into the well. Works for a week; being tried with massive amounts of oxidants early next year

Bangladesh Policy Use surface water when possible We must avoid bacteria and know we have avoided bacteria Rainwater Collection Improved (sanitary) Dugwells Pond Sand Filters River Sand Filters Key is measurement Cheapest when a large number supplied from one unit

Dhaka Community Hospital has been installing Sanitary surface “dugwells” Covered; WHO standards; measured regularly More recently pumped to tank and pipeline to give running water VERY POPULAR

Find out who knows what he is doing (Discuss on web, conferences, WHO etc) Get money direct to them Even if not economically the “best” doing nothing is expensive especially in good will.

Why is it taking so long? Where is the bottleneck? Maybe the set up of village committees If so, go at once to tank and pipeline even though a bit more expensive Villagers (especially women) like it

The whole job can be done for ONLY $300 million! 30 cruise missiles!

Meanwhile please support the public foundation of your choice Dugwell Foundation (Meera Smith) Arsenic Foundation (Richard Wilson)