Arsenic Contamination of Soil and Water and Related Biohazards in Bangladesh

Arsenic (As) is a recognized naturally hazardous metalloid that has long been linked to human poisoning. Bangladesh is now dealing with a major public health crisis, with arsenic contamination in drinking water and food crops putting millions of people at risk. Arsenic accumulates in large quantities in Bangladesh’s farmlands. Arsenic accumulates in edible tissues ingested by people and animals when vegetables and other crops are cultivated in As-contaminated irrigation water and soil. Various ongoing mitigation methods have been implemented in Bangladesh to reduce arsenic exposure and consumption. Some strategies have shown to be successful on their own, while others remain contentious.