HEAVY METALS AND POLLUTED WATER IMPACTS THE HEALTH OF PEOPLE DWELLING NEAR SOME SELECTED WATER BODIES OF HALDIAMOUMITA MAITY AND RAJARSHI BANERJEEAbstract An interview-based survey was conducted involving the inhabitants at the periphery of the four water bodies selected for our study at Haldia. Questions were asked to human subjects who were directly or indirectly dependent on the water sources of those stations. The people were interviewed using a questionnaire. The study revealed that 40% of the respondents had expressed a high degree of health impact and 80% of the respondents reported short duration morbidity. A few inhabitants displayed symptoms indicating the presence of trace heavy metals toxicity in one of the water bodies where lead and cadmium toxicity was found in one station. Lack of awareness and knowledge is leading to more polluted water exposure which depicts a gradual recession on the quality of human health. |