‘49k in state exposed to arsenic hazard’
Toxic Metal in Groundwater Causes Cancer
Ahmedabad: close to 49,000 people in Gujarat are exposed to arsenic levels in groundwater that exceed the WHO –mandated limit of 10 micrograms per litre (Ug/L).The exposure occurs either through consumption of water or while using it for irrigation.
The growing reliance on groundwater is fast depleting the natural resource and causing the concentration of the toxic metal to rise. Experts from University of Manchester and federal institute of Aquatic science and Technology of Switzerland carried out a latest study on the geospatial distribution of arsenic in groundwater in the state was carried out by experts university of Manchester and federal institute of Aquatic Science and Technology of Switzerland.
The study indicates arsenic hazard – concentrations exceeding the 10Ug/L limit- in the northwest, northeast, and southeast parts of Kutch district; and in the northwest and southwest parts of banaskantha.
Other districts such a Ahmedabad and gandhinagar have arsenic concentrations ranging between 2UG/L and 3 UG/L.
The study was published in the journal environ geochem Health in June this year. The study said that long-term consumption of arsenic may greatly increase the risk of skin cancers, bladder cancers, lung cancers, cardiovascular disease, and other detrimental health outcomes.
The researchers were Ruohan Wu and David Polya of Williamson Research Centre for Molecular Environmental Science of University of Manchester; and Joel podgorski and Michael Berg of Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology and Switzerland.
The study has taken into account 398 groundwater arsenic concentrations.
The study has drawn attentions to remedial measures .it has also indicated that the exiting situation may have given rise to 700 cases of skin cancer and about 10 cases of premature avoidable mortality per annum from lung, liver, or bladder cancers
