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Ground Water Arsenic Contamination: A Local Survey in India
Abstract
Background: In the present times, arsenic poisoning contamination in the ground water has
caused lots of health‑related problems in the village population residing in middle Gangetic plain.
In Bihar, about 16 districts have been reported to be affected with arsenic poisoning. For the
ground water and health assessment, Simri village of Buxar district was undertaken which is a
flood plain region of river Ganga.
Methods: In this study, 322 water samples were collected for arsenic estimation, and their results
were analyzed. Furthermore, the correlation between arsenic contamination in ground water with
depth and its distance from river Ganga were analyzed. Results are presented as mean ± standard
deviation and total variation present in a set of data was analyzed through one‑way analysis of
variance. The difference among mean values has been analyzed by applying Dunnett’s test. The
criterion for statistical significance was set at P < 0.05.
Results: This study shows novel findings ever done in this area. Halwa Patti and Doodhi Patti
strips were the most affected strips with high‑arsenic concentration in hand pumps. Furthermore, a
correlation between the arsenic concentration with the depth of the hand pumps and the distance
from the river Ganga was also a significant study.
Conclusions: The present study concludes that in Simri village there is high contamination of
arsenic in ground water in all the strips. Such a huge population is at very high risk leading the
village on the verge of causing health hazards among them. Therefore, an immediate strategy
is required to combat the present problem.
Keywords: Arsenic contamination, ground water, river, village
caused lots of health‑related problems in the village population residing in middle Gangetic plain.
In Bihar, about 16 districts have been reported to be affected with arsenic poisoning. For the
ground water and health assessment, Simri village of Buxar district was undertaken which is a
flood plain region of river Ganga.
Methods: In this study, 322 water samples were collected for arsenic estimation, and their results
were analyzed. Furthermore, the correlation between arsenic contamination in ground water with
depth and its distance from river Ganga were analyzed. Results are presented as mean ± standard
deviation and total variation present in a set of data was analyzed through one‑way analysis of
variance. The difference among mean values has been analyzed by applying Dunnett’s test. The
criterion for statistical significance was set at P < 0.05.
Results: This study shows novel findings ever done in this area. Halwa Patti and Doodhi Patti
strips were the most affected strips with high‑arsenic concentration in hand pumps. Furthermore, a
correlation between the arsenic concentration with the depth of the hand pumps and the distance
from the river Ganga was also a significant study.
Conclusions: The present study concludes that in Simri village there is high contamination of
arsenic in ground water in all the strips. Such a huge population is at very high risk leading the
village on the verge of causing health hazards among them. Therefore, an immediate strategy
is required to combat the present problem.
Keywords: Arsenic contamination, ground water, river, village