Abstract: A study was undertaken to determine the arsenic status of some selected soils in six thanas
of three arsenic affected districts of Bangladesh. Eighteen soil samples taking three from
each of 6 thanas representing 3 districts viz. Moulavibazar, Habiganj and Sylhet of
Bangladesh were collected for the study. The soils were collected from 3 depths viz. 0-15,
15-30 and 30-45 cm from each location. The arsenic content in soils of Moulavibazar,
Habiganj and Sylhet districts ranged from 1.32-31.89, 0-16.87 and 0.66-17.57 ppm,
respectively. Out of 18 samples, arsenic content was noticed for 11 samples at 0-15 cm
depth (1.98-25.76 ppm), 15 samples at 15-30 cm depth (3.96-30.68 ppm) and 14 samples
at 30-45 cm depth (3.96-38.23 ppm). The highest arsenic content of 38.23 ppm was found
at 30-45 cm depth in Sylhet district. Seven samples at 0-15 cm, 3 samples at 15-30 cm
and 4 samples at 30-45 cm were free from arsenic contamination. Correlation study of
arsenic contents of soils was done with some soil properties viz. sand, silt and clay
contents, soil pH, EC and organic matter status. Results showed that arsenic content
correlated significantly with different soil properties. |