Arsenic Problem in Drinking

Water
Introduction
• Arsenic in groundwater is an International Problem.
• The WHO guideline for Arsenic in drinking water is 0.01mg/l
• Bangladesh, India (West Bengal) ,China, Taiwan, USA (Nevada)
• Arsenic contamination has been worsening steadily in West Bengal, Bihar
and Bangladesh
• Some scientists believe that all this is only the tip of the iceberg. Many
future generations could be at grave risk from the poisoning. This is
perhaps the largest mass poisoning in history
Source
• Ground water
Effects:
• Exposure to arsenic contaminated drinking water causes development of
Cancer of Skin and internal organs
• The effect in the body starts showing after 2-5 years of consuming the
contaminated water
• The skin develops spots, then hard nodules, leading later to gangrene and
cancer. It also brings many other complications like blindness, liver, and
heart problems, diabetes, and goiter
Method of Removal
Inexpensive: Electro-chemical Arsenic Remediation (ECAR) and Arsenic
Removal Using Bottom Ash (ARUBA)
Costly: Electrodialysis and Reverse Osmosis .