G. Samanta

Impact of safe water for drinking and cooking on five arsenic-affected families for 2 years in West Bengal, India

The groundwater in seven districts of West Bengal, India, covering an area of 37,000 km2 with a population of 34 million, has been contaminated with arsenic. In 830 villages/wards more than 1.5 million people, out of the total population, drink the arsenic-contaminated water. Safe water from a source having < 0.002 mg 1(-1) arsenic has been supplied for 2 years to five affected families comprising 17 members (eight of them with arsenical skin-lesions) of different age groups for impact assessment study in terms of loss of arsenic through urine, hair and nail. The study indicates random observable fluctuations of arsenic concentration in urine among members on different scheduled sampling days with a declining trend, particularly during the first 6 months. Furthermore, the investigation showed that despite having safe water for drinking and cooking, the study group could not avoid an intake of arsenic, time and again, through edible herbs grown in contaminated water, food materials contaminated through washing, and the occasional drinking of contaminated water. After minimizing the level of contamination, a noteworthy declining trend after 8 months was observed in urine, hair and nails in all the cases, but not to that level observed in a normal population, due to prevailing elevated background level of arsenic in the area. The eight members, who had already developed skin lesions, are far from recovering completely, indicating a long-lasting damage. Statistical interpretation of the data are considered.

Arsenic in groundwater in six districts of West Bengal, India: the biggest arsenic calamity in the world: the status report up to August, 1995

In six districts of West Bengal: Malda, Murshidabad, Bardhaman, Nadia, 24-Parganas (North) and 24-Parganas (South), arsenic has been found in groundwater above the maximum permissible limit recommended by WHO. The current provisional arsenic level in drinking-water from WHO is 0.01 μl−1 (WHO, 1993). This water is used by villagers for drinking, cooking and other household purposes. Saha (Saha, 1984, 1985, 1995; Saha and Poddar, 1986) reported 1214 cases of chronic arsenical dermatosis from drinking arsenic contaminated tube-well water in 47 villages in these six districts. During January 1988-August 1995 a further survey was conducted by the School of Environmental Studies in these districts and the present estimation indicates that 44 blocks in these six districts are affected that includes 466 villages and many municipal areas. About 1.0 million people were drinking arsenic-contaminated water and about 200000 people have arsenical skin lesions. The total population and area of these six districts are 30 million and 34000 km2 respectively. Every month we are finding additional arsenic-affected villages. These 30 million people are at risk.

Determination of particulate phase polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in ambient air of Calcutta for three years during winter

Twelve species of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were measured in the suspended particulate matter during winter (January and February) in Calcutta for 3 years from 1992 to 1994 both years inclusive. Samples were collected at 5 busy road intersections within the city. Air particulate samples were collected using high volume samplers and glass fibre filters(GFFs). PAH analysis was carried out on an HPLC system. Individual species were identified by retention times and the corresponding response ratios from the fluorescence and UV detectors. The benzene soluble organic matter (BSOM) content of the air particulate samples collected was 10.09 ± 1.92%. The lowest ΣPAH observed was 22.91 ng m−3 at Jadavpur in 1993 and the highest was 190.96 ng m−3 at Maulali in 1994. The global average ΣPAH of all samples was found to be 77.40± 27.16 ng m−3. The compositional pattern of the 12 PAH species monitored were very similar in all the samples. The average BAP concentration was 10.40 ± 4.76 ng m−3. BAP concentration w...

Arsenic Groundwater Contamination and Sufferings of People in West Bengal-India and Bangladesh

Working on West Bengal—s arsenic calamity for last 10 years & in Bangladesh for last 4 years even now we feel we are at the tip of the iceberg. Thus we need to know as early as possible the real magnitude of the arsenic calamity. According to WHO, the possibility of getting skin lesions exists among those drinking 1,000μg of arsenic per day for several years. & our analytical report on water indicates that a large sum of population are consuming above 1,000μg of arsenic per day. Our thousands of hair, nail & urine analyses from the affected villages indicate that more than 80% of population have higher arsenic body burden. Thus many may not be showing arsenical skin lesions but may be sub-clinically affected. Further if it is true that arsenic toxicity appears after several years of exposure, then the picture may actually be far more grim than it appears at present, & children our future generations are at a greater risk.

Calcutta Pollution: Part V. Lead and Other Heavy Metal Contamination in a Residential Area from a Factory Producing Lead-Ingots and Lead-Alloys

Within Calcutta city of area 100 sq. km there are altogether 11516 small and big factories. And in and around Calcutta there are alone 40 factories producing only lead-ingots and lead-alloys; a few hundred thousand people live in the vicinity of these factories. Most of these factories are bereft of adequate emission treatment plant and the chimney heights also are in the range of 15–25 metres only. The analytical study of soil, water, road-dust, dust on leaves, pond-sediment of the surroundings of one such factory in Kalipark, Dum Dum is presented in this paper. The results show that the surrounding area is highly contaminated not only by lead but also from very toxic elements arsenic, cadmium and mercury.