REPORT ON ANALYSIS OF ARSENIC IN GROUND WATER IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF TRIPURA
1.Introduction
Presence of Arsenic in ground water in excess of permissible limit is proving to be a serious health hazard in many parts of West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Bangladesh.
1.2Tripura is a landlocked state skirted on almost all sides by Bangladesh. And since Bangladesh ground waters have tested highly Arsenic containing, the Tripura State Pollution Control Board(TSPCB) has taken special care for assessment of the Arsenic content in all ground water samples it tested during the past two to three years. But on no occasion did the TSPCB find any measurable presence of Arsenic in these samples.
1.3As to how and why Arsenic finds entry into ground water, in the main, there are two broad theories. One theory suggests that excessive use of lead arsenate and copper arsenite as rodenticides and pesticides is responsible for arsenic contamination in ground water. The other begins from the assumption that Arsenic originates in the Himalayan headwaters of the Ganga and the Brahamaputra rivers. Over many many years these rivers have deposited arsenic in the Ganga plains and Padma-Meghna-Bramhaputra basin. There are also indications that Arsenic finds an easy adsorption in iron oxides. Tripura is considered to be a part of the Meghna basin and since presence of iron is aplenty in Tripura ground water, there is always an apriory risk of getting Arsenic in the ground water of Tripura although Tripura land, in most likelihood, was not made of Meghna sediments.
2.Objective
2.1In the September, 2004 issue of the Doner Newsline, a newsletter published from the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DONER), there appeared a news item which stated that the North East Regional Institute of Water and Land Management (NERIWALM), Tezpur had found presence of Arsenic much above the permissible level in 117 ground water samples they had tested. The text of the Doner News item published in this score is annexed as Annexure-I.
2.2This is an alarming finding. NERIWALM authorities were immediately requested to kindly forward the names of the actual locations from where the 117 samples of ground water were collected. But they did provide only the names of the blocks/regions from where the said samples were collected and not the actual locations.
2.3The TSPCB, therefore, decided to collect a number of ground water samples at random from the locations scattered all over the likely zones in each of the blocks/regions in question as well as other places. Accordingly 94 number of ground water samples were collected in the month of February, 2005 and analysed to ascertain their Arsenic contents.
3.Methodology
For the study of arsenic present in ground water of Tripura a scientific team of Tripura State Pollution Control Board collected 94 numbers of ground water samples from Deep Tube Wells set up by Public Health Engineering Department, Mark-II tube wells, Shallow tube wells, dug wells and overflows located in concerned Blocks/regions in February 2004. Samples of ground water were collected in the same manner in the past.
3.2During the collection of samples the tube wells were operated approximately 10 minutes before collection to flash out the stagnant water inside the tube and to get fresh ground water. The water samples were collected in plastic container and preserved by using of 1:1 HNO3 solution.
3.3The chemical analysis of arsenic in ground water samples were carried out by using Silver Diethyldithiocarbamate method. In this method, 20 ml of water samples were pipetted in to Erlenmeyer flask of the apparatus. After that 30 ml of sulfuric acid (40%), 2 ml potassium Iodide (KI) solution and 8 drops of Tin (II) Chloride solution were taken and closed the flask. After shaking the flask well to mix the solution, it was kept for 15 minutes. Thereafter, 2 gm of zinc granuals were added to the reaction flask and the absorption tube containing exact 5 ml Silver Diethyldithiocarbamate-Brucine-solution was immediately assembled to the apparatus. After starting the reaction the assembly was put into the fume cupboard for one hour to complete the reaction. This was done for observing the colour changes. Afterwards, the absorbance of the absorption solution was measured by SQ-118 Spectrophotometer. The detection level of the SQ118 of TSPCB for Arsenic is of the range 0.05-0.6 mg/l.
3.4The description of the instrument (SQ 118) is annexed as Annexure-II.
4.Observations
4.1In none of the 94 samples so collected was found the presence of Arsenic in detectable range.
4.2In Annexure-III, IV and V the findings of the TSPCB in respect of Arsenic contents in Tripura ground are summarised. The Annexure-VI gives the findings of a short survey conducted by the Centre for Study of Men and Environment. The Arsenic content status of Tripura ground water as obtains in a paper of Dr. A. K. Singh of NERIWALM and technical report prepared accordingly is presented as Annexure VII.
4.3But there probably is no scope of complacence. In the TSPCB, the instrument used is SQ118 whereas NERIWALM has the most sophisticated Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. In spite of the null results it found, the TSPCB, therefore, feels that there is a necessity to conduct a full scale survey of ground water of Tripura analyzing quite a large number of samples. It is learnt that the Public Health Engineering Department of Tripura has already entrusted such a work to the All India Institute of Public Health and Hygiene of Kolkata for collection and analysis of some 5000 samples of ground water drawn from all over the State. When these results will be available a better picture of Arsenic distribution all over the State will be automatically available.
5.Drinking Water Standard of Arsenic in Ground Water
Maximum allowable concentration of Arsenic in drinking water is as follows :
Sl. No. / Standard prescribed by / mg/l1. / Bureau of Indian Standard / 0.05 (desirable)
2. / Central Public Health Environmental Engineering Organisation, Ministry of Urban Affairs, Govt. of India / 0.05
3. / WHO / 0.05 (desirable)
4. / European Union / 0.05
5. / Russia / 0.01
6. / Canada / 0.05
6.Health effect of Arsenic
Arsenic is not an essential element for human, although it is found in very small quantities. It causes serious air and water pollution problems in the environment. Arsenic is an accumulative, potent, protoplasmic poison. Elemental arsenic is not absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract. Chronic poisoning by arsenic compounds leads to loss of appetite and weight, diarrhea alternating with constipation, gastrointestinal disorders, peripheral neuritis, conjunctivitis, dermatitis and sometimes skin cancer, which collectively constitute what is called arsenic poisoning. It is also carcinogenic in mouth, esophagus, lyrynx and bladder.
(Source: Elements of Bio-Inorganic Chemistry, G. N. Mukherjee & Aurobinda Das)
7.Recommendation
Tthe present as well as the earlier studies conducted by the Tripura State Pollution Control Board and Centre for Study of Man and Environment, Kolkata have not found the presence of Arsenic above detection level. But since the NERIWALM study has revealed that Arsenic is present in alarming proportion in many ground water samples drawn from Tripura it becomes obligatory to go for large scale study of ground waters of Tripura to ascertain the presence of Arsenic in these.
Annexure-I
EMERGING NATURAL AESENIC GROUND WATER CONTAMITION IN NORTH EASTERN INDIA: A FUTURE DANGER
Arsenic in groundwater is one of the most dangerous environmental hazards and was discovered by NERIWALAM in North East India after analysing 1500 water samples in Assam, 296 samples in Arunachal Pradesh, 182 samples in Meghalaya, 132 samples in Nagaland, 128 samples in Sikkim, 117 samples in Tripura, 114 samples in Mizoram and 60 samples in Manipur in the year 2003-04.
The WHO recommended value of arsenic in drinking water is 50 ppb based on water consumption of 2 litre per day. It is reported by WHO that 1.0 mg of inorganic arsenic per day may give rise to skin lesions within a few years and according to the US National Research Council (NRC) 50ppb of arsenic per day results in the risk of developing cancer. In the states of Assam, Manipur, Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh, the arsenic levels stood above 300 ppb whereas Nagaland recorded arsenic level of above. 50 ppb.
In the North Eastern Region villages, tube wells are not only used for drinking and cooking but also for agricultural purposes. This way arsenic enters the food chain and causes chronic arsenic toxicity in course of time, resulting in arsenical skin lesions and dermatitis in the initial stages and cancer and death in patients exposed to high concentration over prolonged periods. So far there is no available medicine for chronic arsenic toxicity. Safe water, nutritious food, vitamins and physical exercise are the only preventive measures to fight the arsenic toxicity.
It is the responsibility of the community workers, local and national authorities and policy makers, national and international organisation to ensure that actions are initiated to combat the emerging arsenic problem in the North Eastern Region. We should take fluoride and arsenic in groundwater as nature’s preliminary warning about more dangerous toxins yet to come.
Source : Doner Newsline, Vol-1, No.2, September, 200 4 issue, Page-5
(A quarterly publication of Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region)
Annexure-II
Operation of the SQ-118 Photometer -
Description of the Instrument
The SQ 118 is a universal standard photometer which can be used for routine analysis as well as for the well-directed solution of more complex tasks. This functional versatility has been achieved by the consistent use of the latest micro-processing technology. Optimal software in combination with microprocessors and other electronic components control the setting of the instrument and the data processing so that a maximum of user-friendliness is guaranteed and the movements necessary for carrying out a determination have been reduced to a minimum.
The SQ 118 is specially adapted to the analysis methods formulated for use with the well-proven Spectroquant tests. The data of all Spectroquant tests, such as factors, measuring ranges, units etc, are fix programmed. In addition user-generated methods can be entered to solve special formulations.
The SQ 118 is a single beam photometer. It functions with a tungsten halogen lamp and a filter rotor with a wavelength range of 340 to 820 nm. The filter is automatically placed in the beam path.
The detection range of the instrument for Arsenic is 0.05 – 0.60 mg/l. If Arsenic content of a sample is less than 0.05 mg/l the instrument will give null result and when the Arsenic content is more than 0.60 mg/l , the scale shows ++, meaning Arsenic content is more than 0.60 mg/l.
Annexure-III
ANALYTICAL RESULTS OF ARSENIC IN GROUND WATER SAMPLES COLLECTED BY TSPCB FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF TRIPURA
SAMPLES COLLECTED AND ANALYSED DURING FEBRUARY, 2005
Sub-Division : Dharmanagar, North Tripura
Sample No / Sampling Date /Name of Location
/ Typeof source / Arsenic
mg/l
Kadamtala R. D. Block
1. / 16.02.05 / Sanicherra / DTW (PHE) / Nil
2. / 16.02.05 / Kheranjuri / Mark – II / Nil
3. / 16.02.05 / Churaibari,
Near Churaibari Gate / Ring Well / Nil
4. / 16.02.05 / M/s Anibita Petrolum Agency, Churaibari Gate / Ring Well / Nil
5. / 16.02.05 / M/s Insaniet Brick Industires, Bhagun, Churaibari / Ring Well / Nil
6. / 16.02.05 / Dharmapur Senior Basic School / DTW (PHE) / Nil
7. / 16.02.05 / Sakhai Bari / DTW (PHE) / Nil
8. / 25.07.03 / Govindapur J. B. School, Govindapur / Shallow Tube Well / Nil
Dharmanagar Nagar Panchayat
9. / 16.02.05 / Sanitala, Dharmanagar / DTW (PHE) / Nil
10. / 16.02.05 / Office Tilla, Near Kali Mandir Dharmanagar, / Shallow Tube Well / Nil
11. / 16.02.05 / Raj Bari, Residence of Dr. Bishnupada Roy / Shallow Tube Well / Nil
12. / 16.02.05 / TRTC Stand, Raj Bari / Mark – II / Nil
Panisagar R.D. Block
13. / 16.02.05 / Mangal Khali, Near M/s Suratan Nasa Bricks Field / Over Flow / Nil
14. / 16.02.05 / Rajnagar Bazar / DTW (PHE) / Nil
15. / 16.02.05 / Jalabasa Bazar / DTW (PHE) / Nil
16. / 16.02.05 / Panisagar Bazar / DTW (PHE) / Nil
17. / 16.02.05 / Cham Tilla, Road side of NH-44 / Mark – II / Nil
18. / 16.02.05 / Ramnagar, Deocherra / Mark – II / Nil
19. / 16.02.05 / Uptakhali Bazar / Mark – II / Nil
Sub-Division : Kanchanpur, North Tripura
Sample No / Sampling Date /Name of Location
/ Typeof source / Arsenic
mg/l
20. / 18.02.05 / Gopalpur,
Beside Gopalpur High School / Mark – II / Nil
21. / 18.02.05 / Shantipur, Kanchanpur / Ring Well / Nil
22. / 18.02.05 / Sree Rampur, Kanchanpur / Mark – II / Nil
23. / 18.02.05 / Kanchanpur, Near Kanchanpur Class XII School / DTW (PHE) / Nil
24. / 18.02.05 / Subhash Nagar, Kanchanpur / DTW (PHE) / Nil
Sub-Division : Kailashhar, North Tripura
Sample No / Sampling Date /Name of Location
/ Typeof source / Arsenic
mg/l
Gournagar R.D. Block
25. / 18.02.05 / Jalai, Kailashahar / Mark – II / Nil
26. / 18.02.05 / Sonamukhi, Kailashahar / DTW (PHE) / Nil
27. / 18.02.05 / Golakpur Tea Estate, Golakpur / DTW (PHE) / Nil
28. / 18.02.05 / Rangrung, Kailashahar / Ring Well / Nil
29. / 18.02.05 / Rangrung, Kailashahar / Mark – II / Nil
30. / 18.02.05 / Halaipar, Dakhin Srinagar, Kailashahar / Mark –II / Nil
31. / 18.02.05 / Sree Rampur , Kailashahar / DTW (PHE) / Nil
32. / 18.02.05 / Chirekuti, Kailashahar / Mark –II / Nil
Sub-Division : Kamalpur, Dhalai
Sample No / Sampling Date /Name of Location
/ Typeof source / Arsenic
mg/l
Ambassa R. D. Block
33. / 18.02.05 / Kulai / DTW (PHE) / Nil
Kamalpur Nagar Panchayat
34. / 19.02.05 / Kamalpur Town, Kamalpur / Mark –II / Nil
35. / 19.02.05 / Kamalpur Town, Kamalpur / DTW (PHE) / Nil
36. / 19.02.05 / Kamalpur Town, Kamalpur / Shallow Tube Well / Nil
37. / 19.02.05 / Mohanpur, Kamalpur / Mark –II / Nil
38. / 19.02.05 / Rupaspur, Kamalpur / Mark –II / Nil
39. / 19.02.05 / Rupaspur, Kamalpur / Shallow Tube Well / Nil
40. / 19.02.05 / Halholi, Kamalpur / Shallow Tube Well / Nil
41. / 19.02.05 / Halholi, Kamalpur / Mark – II / Nil
42. / 19.02.05 / Halholi Bazar / Mark-II / Nil
Salema R. D. Block
43. / 19.02.05 / West Nalicharra / DTW (PHE) / Nil
44. / 19.02.05 / Bhatkhaori, Road side of Ambassa- Kamalpur. / Shallow Tube Well / Nil
45. / 19.02.05 / Residence of Sri Dhirendra Debnath, Bhatkhaori, / Shallow Tube Well / Nil
46. / 19.02.05 / Madhucherra, Road side of Ambassa-Kamalpur. / Shallow Tube Well / Nil
47. / 19.02.05 / Salema Bazar / Shallow Tube Well / Nil
48. / 19.02.05 / Salema Bazar / Mark – II / Nil
49. / 19.02.05 / Maharani, Road side of Ambassa- Kamalpur. / DTW (PHE) / Nil
50. / 19.02.05 / Nagphul, Halahali / DTW (PHE) / Nil
51. / 19.02.05 / Nagphul Coloney, Halahali / Mark – II / Nil
52. / 19.02.05 / Halahali Bazar / Mark –II / Nil
Sub-Division : Bishalgarh, West Tripura
Sample No / Sampling Date /Name of Location
/ Typeof source / Arsenic
mg/l
Dukli R.D. Block
53. / 09.02.05 / Anandanagar / DTW (PHE) / Nil
54. / 09.02.05 / Uttrar Anandanagar / DTW (PHE) / Nil
55. / 09.02.05 / Anandanagar Road No. 6, / Shallow Tube Well / Nil
56. / 09.02.05 / Sri Nagar Daskhin Anandanagar / DTW (PHE) / Nil
57. / 09.02.05 / Ranir Khamar / DTW (PHE) / Nil
58. / 09.02.05 / Ramkrishna Belurmath, Amtali, / DTW (PHE) / Nil
59. / 09.02.05 / Residence of Sri Gouranga Saha, Madhuban road No. 4 / Shallow Tube Well / Nil
60. / 09.02.05 / Residence of Sri Shepal Saha, Chowmuhani Bazar, Suryamani Nagar / Shallow Tube Well / Nil
Bishalgarh R.D. Block
61. / 09.02.05 / Nehalchandra Nagar / Shallow Tube Well / Nil
62. / 09.02.05 / Madhupur Hospital Chowmuhani / DTW (PHE) / Nil
63. / 09.02.05 / Debipur, Kashba / DTW (PHE) / Nil
64. / 09.02.05 / Residence of Smt. Bhajan Sen, Dabipur, Kamalasagar, / Shallow Tube Well / Nil
65. / 09.02.05 / Office Tilla / DTW (PHE) / Nil
66. / 09.02.05 / Golaghati Bazar / Shallow Tube Well / Nil
67. / 09.02.05 / Shepahaijala Class XII School, Shepahaljala / Mark – II / Nil
68. / 09.02.05 / Baidyar Dighi High School, Baidya Dighi / DTW (PHE) / Nil
69. / 09.02.05 / Main Gait of Shepahijala Sanctuary / Shallow Tube Well / Nil
70. / 09.02.05 / Shepahaijala Sanctuary, Near Dear Park / Shallow Tube Well / Nil
71. / 09.02.05 / Charilam / DTW (PHE) / Nil
72. / 09.02.05 / Chechrimai, Bisharmgang / DTW (PHE) / Nil
73. / 09.02.05 / Bishramganj / DTW (PHE) / Nil
Sub-Division : Sadar, West Tripura
Sample No / Sampling Date /Name of Location
/ Typeof source / Arsenic
mg/l
Jirania R.D.Block
74. / 10.02.05 / Residence of Sri Ashuranjan Sarkar, Paul Para, Nandannagar / Mark – II / Nil
75. / 10.02.05 / Amtali, Near Nandannagar / DTW (PHE) / Nil
76. / 10.02.05 / Durga Chowdhury Para / DTW (PHE) / Nil
77. / 10.02.05 / R. K. Nagar, Near NEEPCO / DTW (PHE) / Nil
78. / 10.02.05 / Bodhjung Nagar Industrial Estate, TIDC Campus Pump – I / DTW (PHE) / Nil
79. / 10.02.05 / Bodhjung Nagar Industrial Estate, TIDC Campus Pump – II / DTW (PHE) / Nil
80. / 10.02.05 / Chaturdash Devatar Mandir Complex, Puratan Agartala / Shallow Tube Well / Nil
81. / 10.02.05 / Dalura, Khayapur / DTW (PHE) / Nil
82. / 10.02.05 / Ranirbazar / Shallow Tube Well / Nil
83. / 10.02.05 / Nalgaria, Ranirbazar / DTW (PHE) / Nil
84. / 10.02.05 / Mohanpur High School, Mohanpur / Shallow Tube Well / Nil
85. / 10.02.05 / Mohanpur / DTW (PHE) / Nil
86. / 10.02.05 / Harijoy Chowdhury Para High School / Shallow Tube Well / Nil
87. / 10.02.05 / Bhagaban Kobra Para S. B. School / Mark – II / Nil
88. / 10.02.05 / Jirania / DTW (PHE) / Nil
89. / 10.02.05 / Jirania Bazar / Shallow Tube Well / Nil
90. / 10.02.05 / In front of Jirania R. D. Block Office / Shallow Tube Well / Nil
91. / 10.02.05 / Champaknagar / DTW (PHE) / Nil
92. / 10.02.05 / Chandra Sadhu Para / Mark – II / Nil
93. / 10.02.05 / Champaknagar Bazar / Shallow Tube Well / Nil
94. / 10.02.05 / Kirtibasi Para, Khumlung / DTW (PHE) / Nil
Annexure-IV
ANALYTICAL RESULTS OF ARSENIC IN GROUND WATER SAMPLES COLLECTED BY TSPCB FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF TRIPURA
SAMPLES COLLECTED AND ANALYSED DURING 2004
Sub-Division : Sabroom, South Tripura
Sample No / Sampling Date /Name of Location
/ Typeof source / Arsenic
mg/l
Santchand R.D Block
1. / 07.01.04 / Santchand Block Chowmuhani / DTW (PHE) / Nil
2. / 07.01.04 / New Manu Colony J.B. School / Mark-II / Nil
3. / 07.01.04 / Manu Bazar / Mark-II / Nil
4. / 07.01.04 / Manu Bazar / Shallow Tube Well / Nil
5. / 07.01.04 / Kalacherra Bazar / Mark-II / Nil
Rupaichari R. D Block
6. / 08.01.04 / Rupaichari Hospital Complex / Mark-II / Nil
7. / 08.01.04 / Parimal Chowdhury Para / Mark-II / Nil
8. / 08.01.04 / Rupaichari S.B. School / Mark-II / Nil
9. / 08.01.04 / Rupaichari Para / Mud Well / Nil
10. / 08.01.04 / Manu Bankul / DTW (PHE) / Nil
Sub-Division : Belonia, South Tripura
Sample No / Sampling Date /Name of Location
/ Typeof source / Arsenic
mg/l
Bagaffa R.D. Block
11. / 09.01.04 / Abhang Charra High School / Mark-II / Nil
09.01.04 / Nishimalay Para, Jolaibari / Overflow / Nil
12. / 09.01.04 / Shyam Sundar Para, Dakhin Jolaibari / DTW (PHE) / Nil
13. / 09.01.04 / Kalshimukh, Baikhora / DTW (PHE) / Nil
14. / 09.01.04 / Subhash Colony, Santir Bazar / Mark-II / Nil
15. / 09.01.04 / Santir Bazar / DTW (PHE) / Nil
16. / 09.01.04 / Birchandra Manu, Near Inspector of School Office / Mark-II / Nil
17. / 09.01.04 / Rajapur / DTW(PHE) / Nil
Rajnagar R.D. Block
18. / 09.01.04 / Paikhalla, Near Panchayat Office / Mark-II / Nil
19. / 09.01.04 / Chittamara / DTW (PHE) / Nil
20. / 09.01.04 / Shankar Math Ashram, Subhash Colony, Rajnagar / Shallow Tube Well / Nil
21. / 09.01.04 / Dakhin Bharat Chandra Nagar / DTW (PHE) / Nil
22. / 09.01.04 / Laxmipur, Near Gram Panchayat Office / Mark-II / Nil
23. / 09.01.04 / Barpathari / DTW (PHE) / Nil
Hrishamukh R.D. Block
24. / 09.01.04 / Sharashima High School / Mark-II / Nil
25. / 09.01.04 / Amjad Nagar / DTW (PHE) / Nil
26. / 09.01.04 / Shikaripara, Baspadua / Mark-II / Nil
27. / 09.01.04 / Sonaicharri / DTW (PHE) / Nil
28. / 09.01.04 / Ratanpur / DTW (PHE) / Nil
29. / 09.01.04 / Puran Matai / DTW (PHE) / Nil
30. / 09.01.04 / Sripur / DTW (PHE) / Nil
31. / 09.01.04 / Near Hrishamukh Sahid Bedi / Shallow Tube Well / Nil
Sub-Division : Udaipur, South Tripura