Journal of Environmental Biology

Prevalence of arsenic exposure in population of Ballia district from drinking water and its correlation with blood arsenic level 

Shashwat Katiyar¹* and Dharam Singh²

¹Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, C S J M University, Kanpur-208 024 India

²Department of Environmental Sciences, Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, C S J M University, Kanpur-208 024 India

*Corresponding Authors Email : shashwatkatiyar0801@rediffmail.com

Publication Data

Paper received:

03 September 2012

Revised received:

20March 2013

Re-revised received:

24 October 2013

Accepted:

30 October 2013

Abstract

An investigation was carried out to ascertain the effect of arsenic in the blocks of Ballia district in Uttar Pradesh in the upper and middle Ganga plain, India. Analysis of 100 drinking water samples revealed that arsenic concentration was below 10 ?g l^-1 in 60% samples, 10-50 ?g l^-1 in 6%, 100 ?g l^-1 in 24% and 200 ?g l^-1 in 10% samples, respectively. The arsenic concentration in drinking water ranged from 12.8 to 132.2 ?g l^-1. The depth of source of drinking water (10-60 m) was also found with a mean of 36.12?13.61 ?g l^-1 arsenic concentration. Observations revealed that at depth ranging from 10 to 20m, the mean level of arsenic concentration was 17.398?21.796 ?g l^-1, while at 21 to 40m depth As level was 39.685?40.832 ?g l^-1 and at 41 to 60m As level was 46.89?52.80 ?g l^-1, respectively. These observations revealed a significant positive correlation (r=0.716, t=4.215, P<0.05) between depth and arsenic concentration in drinking water. The age of water sources were ranged from zero to 30 years. The study indicates that the older sources of drinking water showed higher chance of contamination. Results showed that group 21?30 years having maximum arsenic concentration with mean value of 52.57?53.79 ?g l^-1. Correlation analysis also showed a significant positive correlation (r =0.801, t = 5.66, P<0.05) between age of drinking water sources and their respective arsenic concentration (?g l^-1). Arsenic concentration in blood with mean value 0.226?0.177 ?g dl^-1 significantly increased as compared to control. The blood arsenic content correlated significantly (r=0.6823, t=3.93, P<0.05) with drinking water arsenic level and exposure time (r = 0.545, t = 3.101 & *P<0.05) for populations residing in Ballia districts. Observations and correlation analysis revealed that individuals having depth of drinking water sources 20-30 m were less affected with arsenic exposure. ?? 

 Key words

Arsenic, Blood, Depth, Drinking water, Environmental toxicology, Exposure time, Pollution

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