An integrated geological, hydrogeological, geochemical and geophysical study of arsenic pollution in groundwater of Gotra area, West Bengal Part A: Subsurface geology

摘要

Arsenic contamination in groundwater of the Bengal delta covering West Bengal and adjoining Bangladesh has become one of the worst environmental problems in the world. In alluvial sediments, arsenic is getting released into the groundwater at places, crossing the permissible limit of drinking water standard and thus creating pollution. An integrated geological, hydrological, geochemical and geophysical study has been carried out in and around Gotra village in Nadia district, West Bengal, where majority of the tubewells are yielding high-arsenic groundwater. This paper presents the role of subsurface geology in releasing arsenic into the groundwater.