Arsenic contamination of groundwater India case study

     

ARSENIC CONTAMINATION OF GROUND WATER IN INDIA :---->

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STUDIES CARRIED BY NATIONAL RURAL DRINKING WATER PROGRAMME (NRDWP)---2018, PUBLIC HEALTH ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT (PHED) DATA--2016 , LATEST REPORT OF THE CENTRAL GROUND WATER BOARD (CGWB)--2019 ALL SAYS THAT ARSENIC CONTAMINATION OF GROUND WATER IS ONE OF THE CRIPPLING ISSUES IN THE DRINKING WATER SCENARIO OF INDIA BUT THE RESULT OF ARSENIC(As) CONTAMINATION VARIES.

THE STATES ALONG THE GANAGA-BRAHMAPUTRA-MEGHANA RIVER BASINS SUCH AS  UTTAR PRADESH, BIHAR, JHARKHAND, WEST BENGAL AND ASSAM ARE WORST AFFECTED BY THIS HUMAN-AMPLIFIED GEOGENIC OCCURANCE. DUE TO LACK OF TESTING AND STUDIES WE HAVE UNDERESTIMATED DATA BUT DISTRICT AFFECTED BY "As" IS GROWING, THE INCONSISTENT DATA CAN BE TERMED AS "MISSED DISTRKICT". 

RANKWISE GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF ARSENIC AFFECTED AREAS IN INDIA ARE :

RANK 1: ASSAM--17 DISTRICT AFFECTED

RANK 2 : WEST BENGAL --

RANK 3 : BIHAR

RANK 4 : U.P.

RANK 5 : JHARKHAND

RANK 6: CHHATTISGARH

OTHERS ARE : KARNATAKA, PUNJAB AND HARYANA

ACCORDING TO NRDWP-2018 REPORT, 46 DISTRICT HAS ARSENIC LEVEL LIES BETWEEN 0.01-0.05mg/L AND 17 DISTRICTS WHERE ARSENIC LEVEL IS BEYOND 0.05mg/L. THESE DISTRICTS HAVE ARSENIC LEVEL ABOVE THE BUREAU OF INDIAN STANDARD (BIS) PERMISSIBLE LIMIT FOR SAFE DRINKING WATER IS BELOW 0.01mg/L.

in the world arsenic contamination are given in world map ..

WHY WE CONCERN ABOUT ARSENIC CONTAMINATION OF GROUND WATER ?

 ARSENIC CONTAMINATED GROUND WATER IS USED FOR DRINKING, IRRIGATION OF AGRICULTURAL FIELDS TO GROW DIFFERENT FOOD CROPS AND VEGETABLES. THE ENTRY OF ARSENIC IN FOOD CHAIN LEADS TO DIFFUSED CONTAMINATION, POSSIBILITIES OF BIO-MAGNIFICATION IN FOOD PRODUCTS. THE RICE, WHEAT, VEGETABLES, FEEDER CROPS OF LIVESTOCKS. CATTLE PRODUCTS CONTAMINATION ALONG WITH DRINKING WATER.

ARSENIC (As) BELONGS TO THE SAME GROUP AS NITROGEN, PHOSPHOSROUS IN THE PERIODIC TABLE MEANS ARSENIC HAS STRUCTURAL SIMILARITY AND CELLULAR METTALOID TRANSPORT SYSTEM LIKE PHOSPHATE CALLED ARSENATE. THUS, THE LIVING ORGANISM LIKE PLANTS AND ANIMALS TAKES UP ARSENATE ALONG WITH PHOSPAHATE (3-OH group) .

ADVESRE IMPACT ON HUMAN HEALTH OF ARSENIC CONTMINATIONS ARE : SINCE, As is TOXIC, POSIONIOUS AND CARCINOGENIC AND ITS ACCUMULATION IN THE BODY MORE THE PERMISSIBLE LIMITS THEN CAUSE ARSENICOSIS. IT LEADS TO TO ADVERSE IMPACT ON HEALTH BY INHIBITING ESSENTIAL ENZYMES, WHICH ULTIMATELY LEADS TO DEATH FROM MULTI-ORGAN SYSTEM FAILURE. IT LEADS TO SKIN DAMAGES, SKIN CANCERS, DISEASES OF VASCULAR SYSTEM, DIABETES, ADVERSE REPRODUCTIVE OUTCOMES.

CAUSES OF HIGH ARSENIC IN GANGA-BRHAMAPUTRA-MEGHANA BASIN :---->

GENERALLY THERE ARE TWO MECHANISM TO BUILD ARSENIC IN SOIL AND GROUND WATERS . 1) UNDER HIGH pH AND OXIDISING CONDITIONS (pH >> 8.5) AND 2) UNDER REDUCING ACUIFERS CONDITIONS , HERE CHEMICAL FORM ARSENIC DEPENDS ON REDOX POTENTIAL.

                                 IN INDIA THE NORTHERN PLAINS ALLUVIAL SOIL AREAS GROUND WATER IS BEING CONTAMINATED WITH ARSENIC DUE TO HIMALAYAS CONTAINS ARSENIC RICH ROCKS SUCH AS PYRITES (FeS2) WHICH UNDERGOES EXCESSIVE WEATHERING AND EROSION . THE ERODED MATERIAL SUCH AS FINE SILT AND CLAY CARRIES BY RIVER SYSTEM AND FINALLY DEPOSITED IN THE NORTHERN PLAINS AND DELATS. THUS THE ALLUVIAL SOILS IS RICH IN ARSENIC, IT INFILTERATES WHEN GRONDWATER MOVEMENT IS SLOW IN NORTHERN PLAINS. HERE ORGAINIC MATTER GROWS, MICROBES BIND CARBON AND ARSENIC AND RELEASES THE ARSENIC IN GROUND WATERS. 

AGE OF THE AQUIFERS SEDIMENTS ALSO HELPS TO PREDICT THE OCCURENCE OF ARSENIC CONTAMINATED GROUND WATERS. THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF AQUIFERS . 

1) YOUNG AQUIFERS (HOLOCENE--10,000 YEARS TO PRESENT)-- MUCH YOUNGER, RECENT ALLUVIUM DEPOSITS, HAS YOUNG FRESH ORGANIC MATTER, FINE-GRAINED TEXTURE OF SEDIMENTS , AMORPHOUS MINERAL PHASE, OFTEN REDUCING CONDITIONS, ELEVATED ARSENIC LEVELS.

2) OLDER AQUIFER (PLEISTOCENE -- 1.8MILLION YEARS TO 10,000 YEARS AGO)--HAS LESS ORGANIC MATTER, COARSE GRAINED AND CRYSTALLINE PHASE, OXIC CONDITION, LOW ARSENIC  CONCENTRATION.

FACTORS INFLUENCING THE ARSENIC (As) CONTAMINATIONS ARE : (SUMMERY)

1) LOW LYING AREAS SUCH AS ALLUVIAL PLAINS AND DELTAIC PLAINS

2) REDUCING GROUND WATERS (REDOX POTENTIAL)

3) ORGANIC RICH-SEDIMENTS

4) YOUNG SEDIMENTS

5) VOLCANIC ORES

6) AREAS AFFECTED BY LARGE SCALE PUMPING 

7) MINING ACTIVITIES

8) INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITIES 

THUS BOTH NATURAL AND HUMAN INDUCED ARSENIC CONTAMINATION  IS INCREASING .

MEASURES/ SOLUTION : FOR ARSENIC MANAGEMENT ARE :

1) ARSENIC REMOVAL UNITS THROUGH HAEMATITE GRANULES SEDIMENTATION )

2) USES OF SURFACE WATER SOURCES

3) EXPLORING AND HARNESSING ALTERNATE ARSENIC FREE AQUIFERS.

4) ADOPTING RAINWATER HARVESTING AND WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PRACTICES RAISE THE WATER TABLE.

International Forest day

International forest day ,21st march 2018 , theme is 'forest and sustainable cities'
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Today, is International forest day proclaimed by UN-General Assembly on 21st march,2012 .This global celebration of forest provides a platform to raise  awareness of the importance of all types of forest and woodland and trees.To celebrate the protection of wildlife,humans and environment.

2018 Theme: Forests and Sustainable Cities

Key Messages: by UN

• Forests and trees store carbon, which helps mitigate the impacts of climate change in and around urban areas.
• Trees also improve the local climate, helping to save energy used for heating by 20-50 percent.
• Strategic placement of trees in urban areas can cool the air by up to 8 degrees Celsius, reducing air conditioning needs by 30 percent.
• Urban trees are excellent air filters, removing harmful pollutants in the air and fine particulates.
• Trees reduce noise pollution, as they shield homes from nearby roads and industrial areas.
• Local populations use the fruits, nuts, leaves and insects found in urban trees to produce food and medicines for use in the home, or as a source of income.
• Wood fuel sourced from urban trees and planted forests on the outskirts of cities provides renewable energy for cooking and heating, which reduces pressures on natural forests and our reliance on fossil fuels.
• Forests in and around urban areas help to filter and regulate water, contributing to high-quality freshwater supplies for hundreds of millions of people. Forests also protect watersheds and prevent flooding as they store water in their branches and soil.
• Well-managed forests and trees in and around cities provide habitats, food and protection for many plants and animals, helping to maintain and increase biodiversity.
• Forests in cities and surrounding areas generate tourism, create tens of thousands of jobs and encourage city beautification schemes, building dynamic, energetic and prosperous green economies.
• Urban green spaces, including forests, encourage active and healthy lifestyles, improve mental health, prevent disease, and provide a place for people to socialize.