An assessment of arsenic hazard in groundwater–soil–rice system in two villages of Nadia district, West Bengal, India

Upadhyay, Munish Kumar; Majumdar, Arnab; Barla, Anil; Bose, Sutapa

doi:10.1007/s10653-019-00289-4

Cited by 97 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 61 publications

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“…The typical concentration of As in soil varies between 0.1 to 10 mg/kg (Kabata-Pendias 2001). The mean As concentration in soil from our study (11.8 mg/kg; ranging from 2.5 to 28.6 mg/kg) was similar to the values reported for agricultural tracts in West Bengal (Roychowdhury et al 2002), but lower than the recent study from Chakdaha block (47-62.5 mg/kg; Upadhyay et al 2019). In Fig.…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 88%

Temporal dynamics of arsenic uptake and distribution: food and water risks in the Bengal basin

Kavil

Ghosh

Pašić

et al. 2020

Toxicological & Environmental Chemistry

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Contaminated food chain is a serious contender for arsenic (As) uptake around the globe. In Nadia, West Bengal, we trace possible means of transfer of As from multiple sources reaching different trophic levels, and associated seasonal variability leading to chronic As uptake. This work considers possible sources-pathways of As transfer through food chain in rural community. Arsenic concentration in groundwater, soil, rice, and vegetable-samples collected detected in different harvest seasons of 2014 and 2016. Arsenic level in shallow groundwater samples ranged from 0.1 to 354 µg/L, with 75 % of the sites above the prescribed limit by WHO (10 µg/L) during the boro harvest season. High soil As content (~20.6 mg/kg), resulted in accumulation of As in food crops. A positive correlation in As conc. with increase over period in all sites indicating gradual As accumulation in topsoil.Unpolished rice samples showed high As content (~1.75 mg/kg), polishing reduced 80 % of As. Among vegetables, the plant family Poaceae with high irrigation requirements and Solanaceae retaining high moisture, have the highest levels of As. Contaminated animal fodder (Poaceae) and turf water for cattle are shown to contaminate milk (0.06 to 0.24 µg/L) and behoves strategies, practices to minimize As exposure.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 88%

Temporal dynamics of arsenic uptake and distribution: food and water risks in the Bengal basin

Kavil

Ghosh

Pašić

et al. 2020

Toxicological & Environmental Chemistry

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“…Some of the pathological manifestations included arsenic-induced skin lesions which in later stages lead to cancer and morbidity. Epidemiological studies conducted by Das et al [33], Mazumder et al [57], Mazumder et al [56] and Upadhyay et al [81] identified the health impacts of arsenic exposure in the Ganges delta (Sundarbans) through the consumption of As-contaminated drinking water as well as food grains especially rice, which were exposed to As-contaminated groundwater from the local holocene aquifers primarily through irrigation and the cooking process.…”

Section: Arsenic Contamination Of Groundwater and Itsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Threat of arsenic contamination, salinity and water pollution in agricultural practices of Sundarban Delta, India, and mitigation strategies

et al. 2021

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The paper through a critical appraisal of the agricultural practices in the Indian Sundarban deltaic region explores the tripartite problems of arsenic biomagnification, salinity of arable lands and ingress of agrochemical pollutants into the freshwater resources, which endanger the health, livelihood and food security of the rural population inhabiting the delta. The threefold problem has rendered a severe blow to the agrarian economy consequently triggering large-scale outmigration of the rural population from the region. Although recent studies have addressed these issues separately, the inter-connectivity among these elements and their possible long-term impact upon sustainability in the Sundarbans are yet to be elucidated. In the current scenario, the study emphasizes that the depleting freshwater resources is at the heart of the threefold problems affecting the Sundarbans. Owing to the heavy siltation of the local river systems, freshwater resources from the local ravines have salinized beyond the point of being used for agricultural purposes. At the same time, increasing salinity levels resulting from fluctuation of pre- and post-monsoon rainfall, frequent cyclones and capillary movement of salinized groundwater (primarily during the Rabi season) have severely hampered the agricultural practices. Salinization of above groundwater reserves has forced the farmers toward utilization of groundwater, which are lifted using STWs, especially for rice and other cultivations in the Rabi season. The Holocene aquifers of the region retain toxic levels of arsenic which are lifted during the irrigation process and are deposited on to the agricultural fields, resulting in bioaccumulation of As in the food products resourced from the area. The compound effect of consuming arsenic-contaminated food and drinking water has resulted in severe health issues recorded among the local population in the delta. Furthermore, due to the sub-optimal conditions for sustaining agriculture under saline stress, farmers often opt for the cultivation of post-green revolution high-yielding varieties, which require additional inputs of nitrogen-based fertilizers, organophosphate herbicides and pesticides that are frequently washed away by runoff from the watershed into the low-lying catchment areas of the biosphere reserve. Such practices have endangered the vulnerable conditions of local flora and fauna. In the present situation, the study proposes mitigation strategies which necessitate the smart use of locally obtainable resources like water, adaptable cultivars and sustainable agronomic practices like organic farming. The study also suggests engaging of conventional plant breeding strategies such as “Evolutionary plant breeding” for obtaining cultivars adapted to the shifting ecological conditions of the delta in the long run.

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“…The intricate relationship between soil and groundwater and the occurrence of arsenic in groundwater is documented in Upadhyay, Majumdar, Barla, Bose, and Srivastava (2019). Similarly, the effect of the sampling area, depth, and source on health risk due to drinking arsenic‐containing groundwater in Hasilpur, Pakistan, is reported in Tabassum et al (2019).…”

Section: Arsenic In Groundwater Sourcesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Groundwater pollution: Occurrence, detection, and remediation of organic and inorganic pollutants

Kurwadkar

Kanel

Nakarmi

2020

Water Environment Research

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Groundwater pollution is a result of natural and anthropogenic activities. While the elevated levels of various inorganic constituents could be attributed to natural processes, such as geological weathering and aquifer characteristics, many times, anthropogenic activities also substantially pollute the groundwater. On the contrary, the occurrence of organic pollutants is primarily due to various anthropogenic activities. Extensive groundwater mining, the hydraulic connection between groundwater and other surface water bodies, and leaking underground buried infrastructure also contribute to groundwater pollution. Water resources are scarce commodities, and preserving groundwater quality is of critical concern. This paper documents instances of groundwater quality impact during the year 2019 due to both natural and anthropogenic activities throughout the world.

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An assessment of arsenic hazard in groundwater–soil–rice system in two villages of Nadia district, West Bengal, India

Cited by 97 publications

References 61 publications

Temporal dynamics of arsenic uptake and distribution: food and water risks in the Bengal basin

Temporal dynamics of arsenic uptake and distribution: food and water risks in the Bengal basin

Threat of arsenic contamination, salinity and water pollution in agricultural practices of Sundarban Delta, India, and mitigation strategies

Groundwater pollution: Occurrence, detection, and remediation of organic and inorganic pollutants

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