Characterization of arsenic contaminated groundwater from central Bangladesh: Irrigation feasibility and preliminary health risks assessment

To observe the current hydro-geo-chemical condition of shallow aquifers and the response from anthropogenic activities as well as to study the arsenic contents and affiliated health risks, groundwater samples from different parts of north-central Bangladesh (Tangail) were studied. In doing so, analytical parameters, including pH, total dissolved solids, electrical conductivity, dissolved oxygen, NO3-, HCO3-, Cl-, SO42-, Na, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cr, Mn, Ni, As, Cu, Cd, Zn, and Pb abundances were utilized. Aquifer hydrochemistry presents mainly Ca-Mg-HCO3 type water, while in some cases appreciable amount of Na+ and Cl- proclaim their presences in the formation of groundwater mineralogy. Therefore, there was significant impact from irrigation return flow to affect the groundwater hydrochemistry of this region. Source rock-water interactions in…