2,276 people so far identified with arsenic poisoning More than half of Bangladesh's population is in danger of poisoning from naturally-occurring arsenic in the ground water, studies say. More than 230 experts from around the world are meeting on Sunday in the country's capital, Dhaka to suggest possible remedies. Kazi Quamruzzaman, the conference convenor, said two thirds of water samples from 8,000 wells tested had levels of contamination above the maximum permissible limits set by the World Health Organisation. This must be done with caution, however. Doctors fear a move away from underground water to surface sources could expose water drinkers to diarrhoea that already claims thousands of lives each year.
Arsenic victims suffer lesions, scattered tumours all over the body and some develop cancer.
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