Distribution and Mobilization of Arsenic with Other Elements in the Borehole Sediment of the Major River System of Bangladesh

Abstract

          Geological study of the Holocene sediments of the Padma , Jumuna and Meghna rivers connecting board Tista fan and Brahmaputra flood plain in north eastern Bangladesh. Arsenic occurs in large quantities in the earth’s crust and in trace quantities in rocks, soil and ground water. All the sediments were collected at several depths ranging from 1 to 6 m using 1.5 inches diameter pipe through normal digging procedure. The aim of the research is to evaluate concentration of arsenic and other heavy elements (Fe, Mn, Cr, Cu and Ni), to understand the geological vertical and geochemical horizontal mobilization of arsenic along with low lying deltaic plain and to investigate the correlation of arsenic with these metals. Higher amontod arsenic found in the sediment of the river Padma compared to Jumuna and Meghna. Arsenic has correlated with iron concentration and less with cupper and manganese.