Arsenic in groundwater of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), India: Critical review and modes of mitigation. (August 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chakraborti, Dipankar; Das, Bhaskar; Rahman, Mohammad Mahmudur; Nayak, Bishwajit; Pal, Arup; Sengupta, Mrinal K.; Ahamed, Sad; Hossain, Md. Amir; Chowdhury, Uttam K.; Biswas, Bhajan Kumar; Saha, Khitish Chandra; Dutta, R.N.
• Is Part Of: Chemosphere. Volume 180(2017)
• Page Start: 437
• Page End: 447
• Publication Date: 2017-08
• Subjects: Arsenic contamination -- Groundwater -- Kolkata Municipal Corporation -- Biological samples -- Cancer risk -- Mitigation strategy; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Physiological effect -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Periodicals; Atmospheric chemistry -- Periodicals; 551.511
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.04.051
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0045-6535

Abstract

Abstract: This study represents the first comprehensive report of groundwater arsenic contamination status in the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC). During the past 23 years, 4210 groundwater samples were analysed from all 141 wards in the KMC: 14.2% and 5.2% samples had arsenic >10 μg/l and >50 μg/l, respectively, representing 77 and 37 wards. The study shows that the number of arsenic contaminated samples (and wards) in the southern part of the KMC exceeds that of other parts of the city. The daily intake of arsenic from drinking water was estimated as 0.95 μg per kg bw and the cancer risk was estimated as 1425/10 6 . Analyses of biological samples (hair, nail and urine) showed elevated concentrations of arsenic indicating the presence of subclinical arsenic poisoning, predicting an enhanced lifetime cancer risk for the population in southern part of the KMC. In the KMC, groundwater is not a sustainable source of freshwater due to arsenic, high iron, hardness and total dissolved solids. Its continued use is impelled by the lack of an adequate infrastructure to treat and supply surface water and in some wards the unaccounted for water (UFW) is even >45% incurred during distribution. The rare imposition of a water tax makes the water supply systems unsustainable and fosters indifference to water conservation. To mitigate the arsenic problem, continuous groundwater monitoring for pollutants, a treated surface water supply with strict policy implications, rainwater harvesting in the urban areas and introduction of water taxes seem to be long-term visible solutions. Graphical abstract: Highlights: Arsenic concentrations in groundwater of mega city of Kolkata, India. 14.2% and 5.2% samples had arsenic >10 μg/l and >50 μg/l, respectively. Arsenic >10 μg/l and >50 μg/l was found in 77 and 37 wards, respectively. Enhanced lifetime cancer risk for the population in southern KMC. Issues involved in the water supply of Kolkata and mitigation strategies.