U-55/PO |
Studies on Environmental Pollution in Bangladesh using Reactor based
Neutron Activation Analysis Technique |
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Sk.A. Latif, S.M. Hossain, M.S. Uddin, M.A. Hafiz, M.A. Islam and M.S.H.Mubin |
Institute of Nuclear Science & Technology, Atomic Energy Research Establishment, Savar, Dhaka ,
Bangladesh |
Abstract:
To assess the environmental degradation, the concentration of heavy metal such as
chromium (Cr) in soil samples at various depths of existing tannery area of Hazaribagh,
Dhaka, Bangladesh and the proposed tannery industrial area at Tatuljhora, Savar Dhaka,
Bangladesh were analyzed by reactor based Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA) method.
Arsenic levels in water, soil and herbal at different locations of Sonargaon Upzilla in
Narayanganj district, Bangladesh were determined by the same method. The Cr-content at
different depths of Hazaribagh area was found in the range of 38 to 33,500 ppm. Higher
accumulations were observed in top soil that is above the US permissible level (20 to 85 ppm)
except only one sample. The Cr-concentration in soils of Tatuljhora was in the range of 50.9
to 93.6 ppm, which is within the range of chromium background levels reported in worldwide
(7 to 221 ppm). Arsenic detected in soil was in the range of 2.06-11.35 ppm. Few water
samples contain arsenic above permissible level (0.05 ppm). Surprisingly, arsenic was also
found considerably high in some herbals. The arsenic was not found in some herbal
corresponding to the water samples where arsenic was not detected. Therefore, some
Ayurvedic herbal medicine may be contaminated when they will be prepared with arsenic rich
herbs.
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