In Bangladesh there is a severe lack of information on arsenic source, occurrence, uses and related health (toxicology) and environmental hazards, although plenty of books, research articles and homepages on arsenic are available. But most of the Bangladeshis have no access to them, firstly economically they are not affordable and secondly these informations are very complex diverse. Even persons working with arsenic mitigation projects have limited knowledge on arsenic poisoning. Now more than 50 million rural populations of Bangladesh are drinking arsenic contaminated water. Arsenic contamination is one of the most serious catastrophes of human history. Its extent is now beyond control and all mitigation efforts have not yet reached the rural population. Those who can are leaving the villages after witnessing painful and endless suffering. This may be beginning of a mass migration due to environmental depletion. In the earlier times people could – and did – react to change with their feet. They just moved on to where conditions were better. But now, where shall 50 million populations of Bangladesh take shelter? International laws say, "polluter must pay". If IRRI/agrochemical is responsible for polluting ground water gradually from shallow to deep due to improper management, who is responsible for millions of lives in Bangladesh that has just began to end slowly and painfully? Now the problem is related to not only drinking water but also irrigation with arsenic contaminated water possibly has spread over food chain. This book first time shows the source of arsenic is not natural as presumed by the British Geological Survey and related scientific research activities throughout the world to Bangladeshi readers and how water supplies and private water wells can be purified and dispose of arsenic without outside help and at low cost.
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