Depression among chronic arsenic exposure patients in Shampur Upazila, Rajshahi, Bangladesh

Paper Details

Research Paper 06/04/2023
Views (394) Download (59)
current_issue_feature_image
publication_file

Depression among chronic arsenic exposure patients in Shampur Upazila, Rajshahi, Bangladesh

Md Fajlul Kabir Bhuiyan, Masud Rana, Mohammad Firoz Alam
Int. J. Biosci.22( 4), 55-63, April 2023.
Certificate: IJB 2023 [Generate Certificate]

Abstract

Multiple studies suggest that as a toxicant arsenic can adversely affect the growth of human brain and neural functions even when it is present with a permissible limit. This study suggests a hypothesis that four to eight weeks of sub-chronic arsenic exposure (10 mg/L arsenic in drinking water) can cause or increase anxiety and depression-like behaviours. This cross-sectional comparative study was carried out among the 54 participants of Shampur Upazila, Rajshahi, Bangladesh. The study was conducted between 2019 to 2022. The depression levels were assessed using Zung depression scale. The researcher himself collected primary data from the patients of chronic arsenic exposure at Shampur village, Rajshahi, who were using arsenic-containing tube-well water as the source of drinking water, through an in-person interview in a partly structured questionnaire. It was found that the relationship between depression and drinking water source, consumption of arsenic-contaminated water, and level of depression was statistically significant. Chronic arsenic exposure can cause depressive illness. Depression is common in chronic arsenic exposure patients. So attempts should be made to ensure arsenic-free water.

VIEWS 80

Abernathy CO, Ohanian EV. 1992. ‘Non-carcinogenic effects of inorganic arsenic’, Environ Geochem Health 14(2), 35-41.

Argos M, Parvez F, Chen Y, Hussain I, Momotaj H, Howe GR, Graziano JH, Ahsan H. 2007. ‘Socioeconomic Status and Risk for Arsenic-Related Skin Lesions in Bangladesh’, American Journal of Public Health 97, 825–831.

Asuki N. 2003. ‘Mental health effects following manmade toxic disasters: the sarin attack and the arsenic poisoning case’, Tokyo: Prehospital and Disaster Medicine, Department of Social Psychiatry, Tokyo Institute of Psychiatry 12, 47.

BGS. DPHE. 2001. ‘Arsenic contamination of groundwater in Bangladesh. In: Kinniburgh DG, Smedley PL, editors. Summary British Geological Survey WC/00/19(1), British Geological Survey; Keyworth, UK. 1–15.

Bhuiyan RH, Islam N. 2002. ‘Coping strategy and health seeking behavior of arsenicosis patients of rural Bangladesh: a case study of Ramganj upzilla, Lakshmipur’, Presented at the International Workshop on Arsenic Mitigation; Dhaka, Bangladesh, 14-16.

Bolliger CT, Van Zijl P, Louw JA. 1992. ‘Multiple organ failure with the adult respiratory distress syndrome in homicidal arsenic poisoning’, Respiration 59(1), 57-61.

Buchet JP, Lauwerys R, Roels H. 1981. ‘Comparison of the urinary excretion of arsenic metabolites after a single oral dose of sodium arsenite, monomethylarsonate, or dimethylarsinate in man’, Int Arch Occup Environ Health 48(1), 71-9.

Carlin DJ, Naujokas MF, Bradham KD, Cowden J, Heacock M, Henry HF, Lee JS, Thomas DJ, Thompson C, Tokar EJ, Waalkes MP, Birnbaum LS, Suk WA. 2016. ‘Arsenic and Environmental Health: State of the Science and Future Research Opportunities’, Environ Health Perspect, 124(7), 890-9.

Chhuttani PN, Chawla LS, Sharma TD. 1967. ‘Arsenical neuropathy’, Neurology 17(3), 269-74.

Chowdhury AMR. 2004. ‘Arsenic crisis in Bangladesh’, Scientific American 291, 86–91.

Chowdhury MAI, Uddin MT, Ahmed MF, Ali MA, Rasul SMA, Hoque MA, Alam R, Sharmin R, Uddin SM, Islam MS. 2006. ‘Collapse of Socio-economic base of Bangladesh by arsenic contamination in groundwater’, Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences 9, 1617–1627.