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Arsenic in Surface Water of Murshidabad, West Bengal, India: An Unprecedented Situation

Santi Ranjan Dey , Santi Ranjan Dey

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Indian Journal of Biology 3(1):p 49-55, . | DOI: DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.21088/ijb.2394.1391.3116.7
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Abstract

 Arsenic contamination in groundwater in the Ganga- Brahmaputra basin in India and Padma-Meghna basin in Bangladesh and its consequences to the human health have been reported as one of the world’s biggest natural groundwater calamities to the mankind. In India, seven states namely- West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Assam and Manipur and some parts in Chhattisgarh state have so far been reported affected by Arsenic contamination in groundwater above the permissible limit of 10 g/L. People in these affected states have chronically been exposed to drinking Arsenic contaminated hand tube-wells water. With every new survey, more Arsenic affected villages and people suffering from Arsenic related diseases are being reported, and the issues are getting complicated by a number of unknown factors. Arsenic is said to be absent in the surface water like rivers, lakes, ponds etc. A recent survey in Murshidabad district, West Bengal, India reveals that arsenic contamination is also available in Ganga water and other surface water bodies. In river Ganga, at upper Murshibad region it is 0.0006 to 0.0013 mg/L, in its lower part the amount varies from 0.0008 to 0.0182 mg/L. The surface water bodies are also contaminated in varying degree (0.0014 to 0.0188 mg/L). The water supplies by the Berhampore municipality also contain 0.001 to 0.0444 mg/L. The probable source of contamination is the ground water. Huge amount of ground water is taken out by pumps for household purposes, this water is drained in the river without any treatment. In a study, it is found that the sewage falling in Ganga contain 0.0010 to 0.0444 mg/L arsenic. When arsenic is found in the surface water, it will definitely enter the food chain through plants and animals. The biological magnification poses greater threat to human being. 

Keywords: Arsenic; Ganga; Murshidabad; Surface Water; Food Chain.

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  • Santi Ranjan Dey
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  • Santi Ranjan Dey
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DOI: DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.21088/ijb.2394.1391.3116.7
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