He also underscored the need for raising awareness among the people to protect them from the adverse affect of arsenic contamination, especially in the rural areas.

Prof Alauddin was delivering a lecture on Arsenic contamination organised by the Forum of Environmental Journalists of Bangladesh (FEJB) at its conference room here. FEJB Chairman Quamrul Islam Chowdhury presided.

Spelling out the root causes of arsenic contamination, affect of different compounds of arsenic n the human body Dr Alauddin suggested the option of surface water instead of heavy dependence on groundwater.

He also emphasised the need for taking green and leafy vegetables side by side with more protein intakes to combat the arsenic affect in the human body.

Dr. Alauddin urged the scientists to work collectively to find out the chemical analysis of arsenic presence in different food and drinking materials and also suggested the probable solutions.

He said that government has to provide arsenic free drinking water side by side with launching programmes to raise the nutrition status for the people.

He said lack of nutrition increases the risk of arsenic contamination in human body. Proper nutritional care will reduce the risk significantly, he said.