Groundwater Contamination in Punjab due to Arsenic, Selenium and Uranium Heavy Metals

Abstract

Punjab is facing a crisis situation due to high levels of heavy metals in underground water table of Punjab. ICAR has reported arsenic beyond safe limit in 13 districts of Punjab. According to PWSSD report, out of all arsenic contaminated habitations in Punjab, 60% fall in Majha belt of Punjab, namely, Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Tarn Taran districts. Arsenic contamination can be get rid of by using a nanotechnology based technique called AMRIT (Arsenic and Metal Removal by Indian Technology). Doaba belt of Punjab, namely, Jallandhar, Kapurthala and Hoshiarpur districts have high selenium contents in groundwater. Acceptable limit (AL) for arsenic and selenium in groundwater is fixed at 0.01 mg/l (ppm) by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). The highest number of villages with arsenic and selenium contamination of groundwater above the AL falls in the Amritsar and Jallandhar districts, respectively. The health hazard effects of arsenic, selenium and uranium are discussed on the basis of studies carried out in the USA, China and India. Uranium poisoning is rampant in the Malwa belt of Punjab. In this report, groundwater quality data pertaining to arsenic, selenium and uranium, are reported and measures for their mitigation are discussed.

Keywords: Acceptable limit, AMRIT, arsenic, health hazards, heavy metal contamination, selenium, uranium

Cite this Article

Hardev Singh Virk. Groundwater Contamination in Punjab due to Arsenic, Selenium and Uranium Heavy Metals. Research & Reviews: A Journal of Toxicology. 2020; 10(1): 1–7p.