T281 Arsenic, Manganese, Chromium, and Other Geogenic Contaminants, Including Radionuclides in Hydrological Systems—Source, Biogeochemical Cycling, Toxicity, and Removal II

Wednesday, 7 November 2018
1:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Room 133

PROVENANCE, PREVALENCE AND HEALTH PERSPECTIVE OF ARSENIC, FLUORIDE AND URANIUM IN THE GROUNDWATER OF THE LARGEST INHABITED RIVER ISLAND (MAJULI, INDIA), IN THE WORLD

Paper number: T281-2
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 1:35 PM – 1:50 PM

Authors

  • Ritusmita Goswami Presenting Author
    North Eastern Regional Institute of Water and Land Management, Tezpur
  • Pankaj Barua
    North Eastern Regional Institute of Water and Land Management, Tezpur
  • Manish Kumar
    Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar, Gandhinagar

Abstract

In recent past arsenic (As) and fluoride (F-) co-contamination has been highlighted from various parts of the world including Argentina, China, India, Mexico and USA. Very recently, the co occurrence of As, F and uranium (U) has also been reported. However, co-contamination perspective needs further investigation for creating database to reach conclusive observation. Thus, in the present study an attempt has been made with the objectives (i) to understand the co-occurrence perspective of As-F--U (ii) to establish their correlation matrix and (iii) to find out As induced health risk implications. Groundwater(n= 20) and sediment samples (n=5) were collected from the Majuli -the largest island of the Brahmaputra River and analyzed for As, F- and U along with other physicochemical parameters. The results of groundwater analysis revealed high concentration of As (5-300µgL-1) and U (0.31-1.15mgL-1) but low occurrence of F-(0.02-0.66 mgL-1).Sediment samples were found to be enriched with As, F and U. The co-occurrence of these three elements was further confirmed by Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDX) analyses. Multivariate statistical analysis showed poor positive relationship among As-F and As-U. Water type analysis revealed the dominance of Ca2+–HCO3- and Ca2+–Mg2+–Cl- type of water. Arsenic hazard index (HI) values were >1 for both children and adults implying both class of individuals being under threat. The average cancer risk due to consumption of As contaminated water was found to be 5×10-3 and 21×10-3 in adults and children respectively. It is concluded that the people are likely to suffer from non-carcinogenic impacts with potential carcinogenic risk. Further, the unsaturated state of water suggests that occurrences of multi-contamination are likely to get aggravated in near future. Findings of the present study, particularly exploration of co-occurrence phenomena can be a vital data source for future extensive research and management practices.

Keywords: Groundwater, Brahmaputra floodplain, arsenic, fluoride, uranium, multielement contamination

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 50, No. 6

doi: 10.1130/abs/2018AM-322035

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