1 Arsenic and Other Toxic Oxyanions in the Environment (Posters)

Sunday, 25 August 2013
12:00 PM - 11:55 PM
Virginia Ballroom

ARSENIC CONTAMINATION IN THE GROUNDWATER OF MANIPUR, INDIA

Paper number: 1-3
Program: Sessions
Time: 12:00 PM – 11:55 PM

Authors

Abstract

Introduction:- WHO prescribed limit for arsenic (As) in drinking water is 10 µg/L [1]. Unfortunately, in many regions of the world higher As concentrations in the groundwater have been registred. The problem is especially severe in many South Asian countries like India, Bangladesh, Vietnam and Cambodia [2]. In India apart from West Bengal (Indian part of Bengal basin), higher As concentrations have been reported in the groundwater of many other states including Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Chhattisgarh and Assam. However, it is believed that due to lack of studies in other Indian states the extent of As contamination is still not yet fully known. Thus, a study has been conducted in parts of Manipur (North-eastern state of India). Twenty six water samples (20 groundwater and 6 surface water) were collected from Thoubal and Bishnupur districts, following the standard procedure. These samples were measured for As and other elements. Arsenic concentrations were measured by ICP-OES.

Result and discussion:- In ≈ 57% of groundwater samples As concentrations were found well above the WHO prescribed for As in drinking water. However, in all surface water As concentrations remained well within the safe limit (<10 µg/L). The highest As concentration (535 µg/L) was registered from Ngangkha Lawai Mamang Leikai area of Bishnupur district which is fifty times of the WHO limit and tenfolds of Indian permissible limit (50 µg/L). In an earlier study from the same area of Bishnupur district 200 µg/L of As was reported [3], suggesting that the As concentration in the groundwater is increasing over the time. Such rate of increase in As concentration is quite alarming and required a detailed investigation to understand the factors responsible for such increase. Considering low As concentrations in the surface water, it is suggested that the surface water to be used untill supply network for safe drinikng water is established.

Reference: [1] WHO (2006). [2] Farooq et al., (2012) Appl. Geochem. 27, 292-303. [3] Jayalakshmi et al (2010) Environ. Earth Sci. 62, 1183–1195.