Groundwater Arsenic Contamination in the Ganga River Basin: A Future Health Danger

Abstract

This study highlights the severity of arsenic contamination in the Ganga River basin (GRB), which encompasses significant geographic portions of India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Tibet. The entire GRB experiences elevated levels of arsenic in the groundwater (up to 4730 µg/L), irrigation water (~1000 µg/L), and in food materials (up to 3947 µg/kg), all exceeding the World Health Organization’s standards for drinking water, the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization’s standard for irrigation water (100 µg/L), and the Chinese Ministry of Health’s standard for food in South Asia (0.15 mg/kg), respectively. Several individuals demonstrated dermal, neurological, reproductive, cognitive, and cancerous effects; many children have been diagnosed with a range of arsenicosis symptoms, and numerous arsenic-induced deaths of youthful victims are reported in the GRB. Victims of arsenic exposure face critical social challenges in the form of social isolation and hatred by their respective communities. Reluctance to establish arsenic standards and unsustainable arsenic mitigation programs have aggravated the arsenic calamity in the GRB and put millions of lives in danger. This alarming situation resembles a ticking time bomb. We feel that after 29 years of arsenic research in the GRB, we have seen the tip of the iceberg with respect to the actual magnitude of the catastrophe; thus, a reduced arsenic standard for drinking water, testing all available drinking water sources, and sustainable and cost-effective arsenic mitigation programs that include the participation of the people are urgently needed.

Groundwater Quality Assessment Using Fuzzy-AHP in An Giang Province of Vietnam

“…The shallow wells such as G 1 , G 2 , G 3 , and G 4, which achieved a "bad water" quality with high As concentration, lie between the Mekong and Bassac Rivers, which have huge amounts of sediment deposition in monsoon season. This result agrees with other studies by Hoang et al [64] and Vongphuthone et al [63]. Arsenic deposition might be caused by huge amounts of sediment deposition during the monsoon season [64,66,67].…”

“…The wells G1, G3, and G4 are located between, and close to, the Mekong and Bassac Rivers. It is well-reported that mobilization is prominent in the river flood plain [63]. Therefore, As concentration was the highest for well numbers G1 and G4, as they are located in the vicinity of the river plain.…”

Distribution and Geochemical Controls of Arsenic and Uranium in Groundwater-Derived Drinking Water in Bihar, India

“…The improved understanding of the distribution and geochemical controls on As and U in Bihar has important implications on remediation priorities and selection, and may contribute to informing further monitoring and/or representative characterization efforts in Bihar and elsewhere in India.Vaishali, noting importantly that only sources within 10 km of the Ganga River were sampled) [77]. Most recently, it has been reported that 22 districts of Bihar are currently As-impacted, although no further details such as location, non-summarized data or the functional definition of "As-impacted" are included [78]. Further, wheat consumption has recently been identified as an emerging route of As exposure in Bihar [84].…”

“…Further, wheat consumption has recently been identified as an emerging route of As exposure in Bihar [84]. Although thorough reviews of the status of As in the Gangetic Basin are published elsewhere [78,85], the estimated population at risk for As contamination in West Bengal is 26 million people, followed by Bihar (9 million), Uttar Pradesh (3 million), Assam (1.2 million), Manipur (1 million) and Jharkhand (0.4 million) [85]. Widespread in nature, U is a radionuclide which geogenically occurs in granite and other rock types.…”

“…Vaishali, noting importantly that only sources within 10 km of the Ganga River were sampled) [77]. Most recently, it has been reported that 22 districts of Bihar are currently As-impacted, although no further details such as location, non-summarized data or the functional definition of "As-impacted" are included [78]. Further, wheat consumption has recently been identified as an emerging route of As exposure in Bihar [84].…”