Pollution Research Paper

ARSENIC CONTAMINATION IN DRINKING WATER IN FIVE DISTRICTS OF UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA: EMERGING THREAT

BILAL AHMAD TANTRY, IBRAHIM TAHER, DIVYA SHRIVASTAVA, MUDASAR NABI TANTRY AND SHAIK RAHIMAN

Abstract

Uttar Pradesh (UP) is found to be one of those states, which have high concentrations of As(Arsenic) in the drinking water. This issue has become one of the greatest concerns for the Governments of the region, as its affects are considerably harmful in terms of human health. We and surface water arsenic contamination in five different districts including Ghaziabad,Moradabad, Mathura, Gorakhpur, and Agra of Uttar Pradesh in Ganga plain, India. Analyses of 50 surface and tube well water samples have revealed the fact that district Agra showed high arsenic concentrations, i.e., 0.242 mg/L in ground water. On the other hand, lowest As concentration, i.e., 0.102 mg/L was found in Ghaziabad. In surface water As level ranging from 0.556 mg/L to 0.342 mg/L, was observed. In both surface and ground water, the arsenic level is excessively high as compared to the recommended limit (10 ppb) by world health organization.In addition to this, it has also been observed that the depth of tube wells varied from 10 to 70 m.This research study mainly focused on the identification of Arsenic in river as well as groundwater, in five regions of Uttar Pradesh, India.