Groundwater arsenic in alluvial aquifers: Occurrence, exposure, vulnerability and human health implications

摘要

Groundwater arsenic (As) contamination is now recognized as worldwide problem, which has several implications like serious health issues, contaminating food chain, social and behavioral complexities etc. In the present investigation, Barhara block of Bhojpur district of Bihar (India) has selected for assessment of groundwater As contamination, estimation of agricultural area affected by As due to groundwater irrigation, average daily As intake and its vulnerability on human health. Barhara block is composed of 58 revenue villages, out of them, 28 villages were selected for the study. Study findings reveal that out of 28 revenue villages, 26 villages were severely affected by groundwater As contamination. About 2,026.55 hectares irrigated agricultural land (23.19% of blocks irrigated land) of 26 villages is irrigated directly or indirectly by As contaminated groundwater. Agricultural crops cultivated in As affected area are vulnerable to assimilation of groundwater As through irrigation. Study findings show that per capita consumption of As by children, young, adults and old persons are above the permissible limit.