Professor Fakhrul Islam from Bangladesh launched a new water filter at the Fifth International Conference on Arsenic Exposure and Health Effects ( http://www.cudenver.edu/as2002) held in San Diego from 14-18 Jul 2002. The filter, which contains a mixture of crushed bricks and ferrous sulphate heated together (activated burned clay), costs only about US$ 3 (EUR 3). It can supply 32 litres of drinking water per day, enough for a family of four. Field tests showed that the filter removed arsenic to below the Bangladesh minimum approved level (0.05 ppm) from approximately 25 litres of water per day for an average of 3-4 months. To overcome the negative effects of competing ions, in particular phosphate, a simple pre-treatment was developed. Leaching tests showed that the expired media had no negative environmental impact. The BBC reported that "the United Nations is helping to organize a campaign that will distribute the filter to every village" in Bangladesh. The NGO International Development Enterprises (IDE) is also involved in promoting the filter.

Related news: Arsenic Removal: Simple Sand Filters Prove Effective, Source, 17 Dec 2001, http://www.wsscc.org/source/weekly/01489.html#te...

Contact: Contact: Prof. M. Fakhrul Islam, Dept. of Applied Chemistry and Chemical Technology, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi 6205 Bangladesh, fax: +880-721-750064, rajucc@citechco.net ; Mr David Nunley, IDE-Bangladesh Country Director, IDE-Bangladesh, dbnunley@agni.com, http://www.ideorg.org

Source: BBC, 14 Jul 2002
Abstracts, 18 Jul 2002, Fifth International Conference on Arsenic Exposure and Health, Effects