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Effect of Arsenic Contamination on Rice Production and Human Health: Insights from Farmers' Perceptions* M. Shahe Alam1, J. Kabir2, M.A. Islam3 and M.A.Salam3 Paper submitted for presentation in the ASAE International conference on ’Meeting the Challenges Facing Asian Agriculture and Agricultural Economics toward a Sustainable Future ‘ to be held in Hanoi, Vietnam during 13-15 October,2011 . 1, Former CSO and Head, Agricultural Economics Division, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, 2,3, Senior Scientific Officer and Scientific Officers respectively, Agricultural Economics Division, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Gazipur 1701, Bangladesh 1 Effect of Arsenic Contamination on Rice Production and Human Health: Insights from Farmers’ Perceptions M. Shahe Alam, J. Kabir, M.A. Islam and M.A.Salam Abstract Much of the shallow groundwater in southeastern and southwestern parts of Bangladesh is naturally contaminated with arsenic exposing more than 40 million people to unsafe levels of arsenic in drinking-water and potentially threatening rice production and food security as well. A study was undertaken to assess the level of arsenic contamination in rice production, determine the level of changes in intake of rice in the arsenic-overwhelmed population and find out the possible effect of arsenic contamination on human health. Sample survey was carried out in three arsenic-prone districts. Analysis revealed that, the yield of modern rice in arsenic-contaminated plots was substantially low compared to that in less-contaminated plots. Most sample households used hand-operated tubewell-water for drinking and daily household purposes. The proportion of arsenic-affected patients was higher in Kachua (14%) than that in Bhanga area. About 37% and 30% of the household heads in Kachua and Bhanga respectively opined that consumption of contaminated rice was another cause of arsenicosis. Women were more exposed to arsenic contamination since the proportions of female patients in all locations were much higher compared to their male counterparts. No children aged below 5 years, were suffering from arsenic problems indicating that arsenicosis is expressed after long-term intake of arsenic through water and food. The findings indicate that the study subjects have inadequate access to arsenic-free water and consequently people had the sufferings. Due to the excessive use of arsenic-contaminated irrigation water and chemical fertilizers, soil health might have been deteriorated substantially. The Government should undertake various action programmes to make people aware of the arsenic problems in Bangladesh. Keywords: Arsenic contamination, groundwater, modern rice, arsenicosis, health hazard, food safety; ________________________________________________________ The authors are Chief Scientific Officer, Senior Scientific Officer and Scientific Officers respectively, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Gazipur 1701, Bangladesh. 2 1. Introduction In Bangladesh, the cultivation of irrigated winter (Boro) season rice has increased tremendously since 1970s and at present the area under Boro is about 4.71 million hectares which is about 42% of the total rice area contributing about 57% of the total rice production in the country (BBS, 2009). Available statistics indicate that, about 57% of the total arable land area is currently irrigated from shallow tube wells (BER, 2010). However, much of the shallow groundwater in south-eastern and south-western part of Bangladesh is naturally contaminated with arsenic (As) exposing more than 40 million people to unsafe levels of arsenic in drinking water and potentially threatening food security. Build up of arsenic in soil due to use of arsenic contaminated irrigation water has been shown to elevated levels of arsenic in paddy soils causing reduction in rice yield and eventually high arsenic concentration in rice grains (Islam et al., 2007; Panaullah et al. 2009; Khan et al., 2010). The arsenic content of rice grain is generally much higher than that of upland cereal crops because of the relatively high availability of soil arsenic under reduced conditions (William et al., 2007). This arsenic hazard is a great concern of our country since about 25% people in Bangladesh are affected by arsenic contamination due to drinking of arsenic contaminated water from tube-wells (WHO, 2001). Moreover, it is suspected that there will be possible reduction of crop production due to arsenic contamination if the issue remains unattended. The country cannot afford these adverse effects since it is already struggling to meet the demand for food emanating from population growth. High concentration of arsenic has been found in ground water from thousands of hand tube-wells under 60 out of 64 districts across the country. The groundwater in these districts has been reported to be contaminated at various degrees and about 85 million people may be at some health risk due to the ingestion of this contaminated water (Huq et al., 2001) and Ghani et al, 2004). However, adverse impact of arsenic contamination of ground water has been categorized as primary and secondary by Khuda (2001). The primary impact is on the health of individuals who are exposed to arsenic poisoning through drinking ground water lace with arsenic. After several years of low level arsenic exposure, various skin lesions appear. These are manifested by different symptoms i.e. dark spots, white spot, keratosis of hands and feet. The secondary impact is an out come of the primary impact and is reflected in the socioeconomic consequences like 3 inability to do economic/productive works, social exclusion, problems of getting married etc (Jaim et al, 2007). Study on different aspects of agriculture, such as: effects of arsenic contamination on crop, animal and human health is very limited in Bangladesh. Taking into consideration of the above background, this study was undertaken to evaluate the impact of arsenic on modern rice production and human health in the selected arsenic contaminated areas of Bangladesh. 1.1. Specific objectives The specific objectives of the present study were: 1. to assess the level of arsenic contamination in crop production and understand the magnitude of land degradation due to arsenic contamination, 2. to evaluate the productivity and profitability differences in modern rice production due to arsenic contamination, 3. to understand the level of change(s) in intake of rice and other food crops in the arsenic overwhelmed areas and assess the effect of arsenic on human health; and 4. to document farmers’ coping mechanism in overcoming the arsenic related problems. 2. Methodology 2.1. Study area selection Under the IFAD collaboration, the soil science, irrigation & water management (IWM) and plant breeding divisions of BRRI have carried out field experiments on the prevalence of arsenic in the irrigation water and crops in three selected locations under three districts of Bangladesh. The areas were Kachua upazila of Chandpur, Faridpur sadar and Bhanga upazila of Faridpur district. Based on the reports of earlier experiments, sample locations for the present socio-economics study were identified. Two villages under each of the above Upazila were selected for carrying out in-depth socio-economics survey. 2.2. Sampling and data A comprehensive list of the rice producing farms in each village was prepared through taking help of concerned Sub-assistant Agriculture officer. For the present study, the farms those used shallow tube wells (STW) for crop production were the representative samples. Out of those, fifty farms from each village were selected following random 4 sampling technique. Data were collected through directly interviewing the selected farmers using pre-designed questionnaire during November, 2009 - May, 2010. Collected data were scrutinized, edited and compiled using appropriate computer software. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were employed in analyzing the data. To examine the mean differences for different items of input use, productivity and profitability between rice fields near the shallow tube well (more contaminated) and far end of the command area (less contaminated), mean test was done employing the following formula: x1 x2 t s 2 s 2 1 2 n n2 1 Where, 1 2 S 2 x x 1 n 1 i 1 2 1 2 S2 x j x n2 1 i, j= 1, 2, 3……n. 3. Results and Discussion 3.1. Socio economic profile of the sample households The socio-economic profile of the sample farm households are presented in Table 1. The average family size was slightly higher (6.0) in Kachua compared to those of other two locations. The overall family size was 5.57 which is higher than the national average of 4.9 (BBS, 2009). In terms of literacy, the proportion of people under primary education in all the three locations was more or less similar. About one-fourth of the household members in all locations were illiterate. It was also evident that, majority of the household members had either primary or secondary levels of education and the household members with secondary school certificate (SSC) and above were considerably low in all three study locations. 5 Table 1: Socio-economic characteristics of household members in the selected study areas. Socio-economic characteristics Kachua Bhanga Faridpur All Sadar Locations Average family size: 6.0 5.6 5.1 5.57 Male: 2.9 2.8 2.8 2.83 Female: 3.2 2.8 2.3 2.77 Education of the family members (%) Illiterate: 20 16 28 21.33 Primary: 39 36 32 35.67 Secondary: 21 32 30 27.67 SSC & HSC passed: 18 13 8 13.00 Graduation & Masters: 2 3 2 2.33 Total: 100 100 100 100 Main sources of income (%) Agriculture 46 48 53 49.00 Business 23 13 20 18.66 Service 7 8 14 9.67 Wage 5 2 7 4.67 Remittance 16 26 10 15.33 Others 3 3 2 2.67 Total 100 100 100 100 Total annual income (Tk./HH): 131667 184659 151793 156,039 Household annual income was higher in Bhanga (Tk. 184,659) followed by Faridpur sadar (Tk. 151,793) and Kachua (Tk.

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