Arsenic Contamination in Drinking Water Sources -ARS - IJCEE (1) 10 Aug 2012

August 2012, Volume 3, No. 4

International Journal of Chemical and Environmental Engineering

Arsenic Contamination in Ground Water Sources of District

Matiari, Sindh

A.A. Uqaili

a, A. H. Mughal

b and B. K. Maheshwari

c

a Liaquat University of Medical & Health Sciences, Jamshoro, Sindh, Pakistan

b Liaquat University of Medical & Health Sciences, Jamshoro, Sindh, Pakistan

c Liaquat University of Medical & Health Sciences, Jamshoro, Sindh, Pakistan

Corresponding Author

E-mail: [email protected]

Tel: +923332755701

ABSTRACT:

The presence of arsenic (As) has been reported across the globe in drinking water sources, Asia

being the most significantly affected area for arsenic contamination around the world. In Asia

around 100 million people are at risk of arsenic contaminated water sources and more than

700,000 cases have been reported for arsenic related diseases.

Many research studies have been conducted for arsenic contamination, furthermore many studies

are being carried out but still there is significant lack of knowledge about the prevalence and

impact of arsenic and its epidemiology in under developed countries like Pakistan. The focus of

this study is on the rural areas of Sindh using ground water as major source of drinking water. In

Pakistan groundwater arsenic concentration has reached up to 1100 μg/L compared with WHO

limits of 10μg/L internationally and 50μg/L for Pakistan.

In the province of Sindh, around 36% of the population is exposed to arsenic contamination

above WHO limits. Therefore, keeping in view the catastrophic situation, a study on arsenic

prevalence in the district of matiari has been conducted to identify presence of arsenic in ground

water. 85 water samples were taken from district matiari from hand pumps and boring and did

field analysis for salinity and total dissolved salts (TDS). Further, the samples were brought in

water testing and surveillance laboratory, LUMHS, Jamshoro where samples were tested for

turbidity and arsenic. Arsenic presence was tested by Merck arsenic kit for 0.00-0.5 mg/L. The

concentration for arsenic was estimated by visual comparison of the reaction zone of analytical

test strip with the color scale. From the total of 85 samples, 60 samples are positive for arsenic,

and among those 22 samples are positive above WHO criteria for Pakistan (0.05mg/L or50μg/L).

This research is part of the efforts taken to evolve and develop a community based awareness of

arsenic hazards and sustainable arsenic mitigation system by establishing spatial and temporal

prevalence of arsenic in the study area.

Key words: Arsenic, ground water, Matiari, Sindh

mailto:[email protected]



INTRODUCTION:

Water is the most important and basic

necessity for the human life. Without water

life can’t exist and as the population of the

world is increasing the supply of safe and

healthy water has become a great concern.

This is the important debate for both policy

makers and international organizations

dealing with the subject of water shortage

and safe water supply[1]. Among the safety

and quality of water, arsenic has been one of

the important components in contamination

of drinking water specifically in the south

East Asian region. Considerable literature

has been published in recent years on the

presence of arsenic in groundwater being

utilized by humans around the globe and

particularly in Asia. Arsenic has been

identified in the underground water sources

of south East Asian countries and most

prominently in Bangladesh, along with

India, Pakistan and Nepal. In this research

our main focus is on Pakistan.

The main source of drinking water in

Pakistan is ground water. Majority of people

use the water without any treatment or

filtration so it gives rise to a number of

water based diseases. Arsenic is a naturally

occurring element and widely distributed in

earth crust in the form of inorganic arsenic

compounds[2]

. Here we have collected

samples from district matiari of Pakistan.

District Matiari consists of three talukas,

Matiari, Hala, and Saeedabad. It is

connected to district Jamshoro in the west,

Nawabshah in north, Sanghar in the east and

Hyderabad in south. In the present work, we

have sampled UC Matiari, UC Hala, UC

Bhit Shah, UC Nasarpur, and UC Faqir

Nuthiani of district Matiari [3].

The consumption of contaminated water

over long periods of time is the primary

route of human exposure to arsenic. Though

a lot of research has been carried out still

there is dearth of knowledge on the presence

and distribution of arsenic in water. The

presence of arsenic in water poses many

health hazards. Among them the common

effects are skin lesions, skin cancer, itching,

night blindness, lung cancer, renal cancer,

bladder cancer, colonic cancer, peripheral

neuro-pathology and vascular pathology

(Blackfoot disease).

Arsenic is an environmental contaminant

that imposes a high risk of morbidity and

mortality. There may be many areas in

Pakistan that are not tested yet and may

yield high concentrations of arsenic. This

particular study was motivated by previous

research studies conducted in rural areas of

Punjab and Sindh and aims at evaluating

arsenic concentration determining the spatial

distribution of this contaminant in Matiari

district and ultimately gauging the incidence

risk in the environment of local community.

Literature review:

Many studies have been conducted

worldwide as arsenic has become a very

important aspect of environment and

community based research. Arsenic has been

found as underground naturally occurring

substance contaminating drinking water

sources and giving rise to mass poisoning, as

arsenic is still undetected in majority of

areas and proper steps are needed to free the

water of arsenic. Among the research being

carried out, Asia is the most significantly

affected area, and in particular, south East

Asia.



Figure 1 Countries affected on the current global scenario on arsenic contamination emphasizing on Asia [3]

Among the studies conducted around the

globe, maximum work is done over

Bangladesh as arsenic is considered to be at

very high and alarming levels for both

health and environmental aspects.

I. Allan H. Smith, et al ‘

Contamination of drinking-water by

arsenic in Bangladesh’ reported more

than 50% population of Bangladesh

using contaminated water and out of

2022 samples around 35% are more

than 50 μg/L and 8.4% samples are

alarmingly high at around 300 μg/L

[4].

II. Seth H. Frisbie, et al ‘The

Concentrations of Arsenic and Other

Toxic Elements in Bangladesh’s

Drinking water’ took samples from

112 tube wells of Bangladesh and

around 50% samples have arsenic

concentrations above the WHO

guidelines, along with arsenic 30

more contents were tested and most

of them exceeding the normal WHO

criteria [5].

III. M.M.H Khan, et al ‘Magnitude of

Arsenic Toxicity in Tube-well

Drinking Water in Bangladesh and

Its Adverse Effects on Human

Health Including Cancer’ reported

that in Bangladesh 59 districts out of

64 have been already affected by

arsenic in underground drinking

water, where this particular source of

drinking water is the main source for

97 percent of the rural people [6].

Along with this many studies have been

conducted on the health and environmental

effects of arsenic as it has become the most

widespread mass poisoning particularly in

Bangladesh. Among few other areas where

research has been done, South America has

also shown very high concentrations of

arsenic in the groundwater.



IV. Juan D. Paoloni, et al ‘Arsenic in

Water Resources of the Southern

Pampa Plains’ reported 97% positive

arsenic concentrations exceeding the

WHO limits showing maximum

concentrations of up to 0.30mg/L[1].

From the research studies in Pakistan, most

have been carried out in southern Punjab

where arsenic has been found in high

quantities few studies have also been done

in Sindh yielding similar results on arsenic

exceeding the WHO limits.

V. T.AHMED, et al ‘ WED

international conference’ reported

that around 20% population of

Punjab is exposed to arsenic

contamination of 10 μg/L and 3%

population above 50 μg/L and 36%

and 16% population of Sindh is

exposed to 10 μg/L and 50 μg/L of

arsenic respectively [7]

VI. ISLAM-UL-HAQ, et al

‘Groundwater arsenic contamination

– a multi directional emerging threat

to water scarce areas of Pakistan’

reported that in the province of

Sindh, groundwater arsenic

concentration has reached up to 1100

μg/l against WHO limits of 10 μg/l.

in district Rahim Yar Khan and it

was observed that out of 19307

samples, 9644 samples were within

the safer limits <10 μg/l (49.95%)

and the rest of 9663 samples

(50.05%) were found with varying

arsenic concentration from 20 μg/l to

500μg/l [8].

VII. G.M.ARAIN et al ‘Arsenic

contamination in underground water

of Matiari and Khairpur districts

Sindh’ reported 37% samples

positive for 50 or >50 μg/L of

arsenic and 15% samples positive for

very high level of 250 μg/L of

arsenic [2].

METHODOLOGY

54 water samples from Taluka Matiari and

21 samples from taluka Hala were collected

from hand pumps, and motor pumps. Water

samples were collected from each source

after allowing water to flow for 5 min.

Water samples were being collected in clean

0.25L polystyrene bottles which were

subjected to 3 times rinsing before taking

the water for sampling.

Field analysis was carried out for the

conductivity, TDS, salinity and temperature

by the Senso direct con 200 conductivity

meter. Arsenic was measured in LUMHS

Water testing and surveillance Laboratory

with Merck Arsenic Kit for 0.01-0.5 mg/L

[9]. This test generates arsenic hydride

which reacts with the mercury bromide

present in the analytical strip to form a

yellow brown mixed arsenic mercury

halogenide. The concentration of arsenic

was measured by visual comparison of the

reaction zone of the analytical test strip with

scales of fields of color.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

District Matiari includes three talukas:

Matiari, Hala, and Saeedabad. In the present

working, Matiari and Hala talukas were

sampled. In these areas mostly ground water

as boring through hand pump or motor

pump is used for drinking. This was the base

of collecting samples from these areas for

the detection of arsenic.

The release of Arsenic may be correlated to

one of the three most established theories:



Release of Arsenic due to

Phosphorus because of

application of phosphate

fertilizers;

Desorption of Arsenic due to

reductive Dissolution of metal

oxy-hydroxides;

Oxidation of pyrite.

In the research area, pesticides and

fertilizers are being used on cotton and

sugarcane crops. Phosphate fertilizers are

extensively used in the area. In many

studies, elevated arsenic concentrations in

groundwater have been found due to

application of phosphate fertilizers

(Campos, V., 2002, Davenport, J.R. &

Peryea, F.J. 1991). Water quality survey

conducted by PCRWR in the study area

revealed higher PO4, concentration in the

study area (water quality status in Pakistan,

2003). Hence preferential adsorption of

phosphate on sediments can also be held

responsible for the release of arsenic [9]

.

The total no of samples collected from

district Matiari were 85; 39 from UC Matiari

, 19 from Bhit Shah, 12 from Nasarpur, 11

from Hala and 4 from UC Faqir Nuhthiani

(fig:1.1) ,

The samples were taken from ground water

boring through hand pumps and motor

pumps. 40 samples were taken from motor

pumps and 45 from hand pumps from the

above mentioned areas of the district.

ARSENIC: The normal range of arsenic

for under developed countries given by

WHO is (0.05mg/L or50μg/L) and

internationally in developed countries it is

(0.01mg/L or10μg/L). From these 85

samples 60 samples were found to be

positive for arsenic contamination fig 1.1, out

of these 60 samples 22 samples were above

WHO limits for Pakistan (0.05mg/L or 50

μg/L) for arsenic as show in table1.1 & fig 1.2,

18 samples were positive at international

limits of (0.01mg/L or 10 μg/L) of arsenic

and 20 were positive but below WHO

criteria for arsenic at the level of

(0.005mg/L or 5 μg/L) of arsenic and were

tested in the water testing and surveillance

lab LUMHS Jamshoro . These samples

along with arsenic were tested for turbidity,

color, salinity, and total dissolved salts

(TDS).

Figure 2 Fig 1.1 distribution of samples from district

Matiari



Figure 3 arsenic concentration from total

no of samples

Table 1.1 (samples showing arsenic

concentration 0.05mg/L or above)

S. Sampling Area Arsenic mg/L

5 UC Matiari Kacho 0.05

6 UC Matiari Kacho 0.1

8 UC Matiari Memon colony 0.05

32

Pir Noor Shah Colony;

Matiari 0.05

34

Pir Noor Shah Colony;

Matiari 0.08

39 Matiari Stop 0.1

40 Govt. School; Matiari Stop 0.1

48 Noor Shah Colony; Matiari 0.05

49 Noor Shah Colony; Matiari 0.05

60 NasarPur 0.25

61 NasarPur 0.25

62 NasarPur 0.25

64 NasarPur 0.1

65 NasarPur 0.1

67 NasarPur 0.25

68 NasarPur 0.1

69 NasarPur 0.25

70 NasarPur 0.1

77 New Hala 0.1

82 UC I Hala 0.05

83 Talabulmola colony hala 0.1

84 UC I Hala 0.05

Figure 4. Arsenic above WHO limits for Pakistan

Among the 45 samples of hand pump, 26 are

positive for arsenic and 10 are above WHO

criteria for Pakistan (0.05mg/L). Similarly

from 40 samples of motor pump 34 were

positive for arsenic and 12 were above

WHO limits of 0.05mg/L as shown in table1.2 and fig 1.3.

Table 1.2 arsenic detection among water sources

Total

samples

Arsenic

positive

Arsenic

0.05mg/L

or above

Hand pump 45 26 10

Motor pump 40 34 12

Figure 5 Arsenic among water sources

Turbidity: The acceptable WHO range for

turbidity is 1-5 NTU, while in the samples

which we collected, the range extended from

0 NTU to 74 NTU. Total of 5 samples were

found to be above the WHO criteria fig 1.4.



Figure 6 Turbidity above WHO criteria

TDS: Normal TDS limits set by WHO are

500-1000 mg/L but values of TDS found in

collected samples ranged from 358 to 5318.

With 49 samples out of 85 having TDS

above the WHO criteria (fig1.5).

Figure 7 Samples above normal TDS level

CONCLUSION:

This research is part of the efforts taken to

evolve and develop a community based

awareness of arsenic hazards and sustainable

arsenic mitigation system by establishing

spatial and temporal prevalence of arsenic in

the study area. From the data collected and

analyzed, the samples collected from district

Matiari have given alarmingly high

concentration of arsenic in the drinking

water ranging from 0.005-0.25mg/L. And it

shows that this water is very unsafe for

human consumption and efforts should be

taken to decrease it, provide alternate source

and educate the community.

RECOMMENDATIONS

The research over Arsenic contamination

has pointed towards a major health problem

in Dist. Matiari and a survey taken from

general population showed that ninety-seven

percent of people are unaware of the

inclusion of Arsenic in their drinking water

sources. It is therefore pertinent to devise a

holistic approach and taking the community

into participation, following measures are to

be taken:

1. It is highly desirable to form a

research group with geologists,

hydrologists, geo-chemists, water

supply and environmental engineers,

and public health experts to conduct

in-depth investigation on the sources

and causes of arsenic contamination

in groundwater.

2. Water Management:

Screening of all tube wells

should be undertaken.

As testing facilities should be

available at an affordable cost.

Groundwater pumping rate

should be minimized for

irrigation.

3. Alternative sources of drinking

water: innovative alternative sources

such as, pond sand filters, infiltration

galleries, or rain wells, and in some

places even rainwater harvesting can

be adopted to alleviate the arsenic

disaster.

4. Use of surface water: Existing

surface water could be purified by

filtration and chlorination, and even

by ultraviolet disinfection or solar

radiation and can be used in drinking

and other house hold purposes.



5. Removal of arsenic by chemical

precipitation: Coagulants such as the

salts of

Aluminum and iron should be used

to remove the arsenic from domestic

drinking water.

6. Removal of arsenic by oxidation:

Oxidants such as free chlorine,

ozone, Permanganate, hypo-chlorite,

and Fenton reagent (H2O2/Fe2+)

should be used to remove arsenic

from drinking water

7. Extraction and distribution of arsenic

free groundwater from deep aquifers:

If other alternatives are costly and

complicated potable drinking water

can be extracted and distributed from

deep aquifers.

8. Removal of arsenic from water

collected from the existing

contaminated sources by filtration:

Water filters should be used at

drinking water treatment plant or at

each individual household source.

9. Removal of arsenic from the existing

water sources: The sources of arsenic

contamination must be controlled

and arsenic contaminated soil and

shallow groundwater aquifers should

be cleaned to prohibit the future

contamination.

10. In-situ remediation of arsenic

contaminated groundwater: This can

be achieved by using iron filings

permeable walls.

REFERENCES

1. Paoloni, J. D., Sequeira, M. E.,

Esposito, M. E., Fiorentino, C. E., &

del, C. B. M. Arsenic in water

resources of the southern pampa

plains, argentina. J Environ Public

Health, (2009). 2009: 216470. doi:

10.1155/2009/216470

2. Arain, G. M., Aslam, M., &

Majidano, S. A. Arsenic

contamination of underground water

in district matiari and khairpur.

jour.chem.soc.pak, (2007). 25(5).

3. Sengupta, M. K., Mukherjee, A.,

Hossain, M. A., Ahamed, S.,

Rahman, M. M., Lodh, D., et al.

Groundwater arsenic contamination

in the ganga-padma-meghna-

brahmaputra plain of india and

bangladesh. Arch Environ Health,

(2003). 58(11): 701-2. doi:

10.3200/AEOH.58.11.701-702

4. Smith, A. H., Lingas, E. O., &

Rahman, M. Contamination of

drinking-water by arsenic in

bangladesh: A public health

emergency. [Review]. Bull World

Health Organ, (2000). 78(9): 1093-

103.

5. Frisbie, S. H., Ortega, R., Maynard,

D. M., & Sarkar, B. The

concentrations of arsenic and other

toxic elements in bangladesh's

drinking water. [Research Paper].

Environ Health Perspect, (2002).

110(11): 1147-53.

6. Khan, M. M., Sakauchi, F., Sonoda,

T., Washio, M., & Mori, M.

Magnitude of arsenic toxicity in

tube-well drinking water in

bangladesh and its adverse effects on

human health including cancer:

Evidence from a review of the

literature. [Review]. Asian Pac J

Cancer Prev, (2003). 4(1): 7-14.

7. Ahmed, T., Kahlown, M. A., Tahir,

A., & Rashid, H. People-centred



approaches to water and

environmental sanitation:

Proceedings of the 30th wedc

conference, lao national cultural

hall, vientiane, lao pdr, october

2004. In 30th WED international

conference, viantiane:2004, 662.

8. Haque, I. U., Nabi, D., Baig, M. A.,

& Hayat, W. Groundwater arsenic

contamination – a multi directional

emerging threat to water scarce

areas of pakistan. In 6th

International Groundwater Quality

Conference, Fremantle, Western

Australia,:2007, 24-30.

9. Yu, G., Sun, D., & Zheng, Y. Health

effects of exposure to natural arsenic

in groundwater and coal in china:

An overview of occurrence.

[Research Paper]. Environ Health

Perspect, (2007). 115(4): 636-42.

doi: 10.1289/ehp.9268



Appendix

Table 1.1(table of all parameters tested)

S.NO. Sampling Area Source Turbidity NTU Salinity % TDS mg/L Arsenic mg/L

1 UC Matiari Kacho Hand pump 42 1.8 2028 0.005


3 UC Matiari Kacho motor pump 0 2.5 3718 0.025

4 UC Matiari Hand pump 0 1.4 1792 0.005



7 UC Matiari Memon Colony motor pump 0 0.4 535 0.005

8 UC Matiari Memon Colony Hand pump 0 3.3 4065 0.05



11 UC Faqir Nuhthiani Hand pump 0 1.2 1582 0.005

12 Bughio Muhalla UC Bhit Shah motor pump 0 1.2 1589 0.005

13 Bughio Muhalla UC Bhit Shah motor pump 0 0.7 969 0.005

14 Bughio Muhalla UC Bhit Shah motor pump 0 1.7 2430 0



17 Tambooro Chowk UC Bhit Shah motor pump 0 2 2670 0








25 UC Matiari Noor Shah Colony Hand pump 64 0.4 548 0.01

26 UC Matiari Noor Shah Colony Hand pump 0 0.4 485 0.01

27 Bhit Shah motor pump 0 0.8 1014 0


29 Bhit Shah motor pump 0 1.4 1736 0.005


31 Bhit Shah motor pump 0 1 1272 0.005

32 Pir Noor Shah Colony; Matiari Hand Pump 0 1.9 2418 0.05

33 Pir Noor Shah Colony; Matiari motor Pump 0 0.4 533 0.01

34 Pir Noor Shah Colony; Matiari Hand Pump 0 2.2 2810 0.08

35 Matiari Stop Hand Pump 0 0.4 496 0.005


37 Matiari Stop motor pump 0 0.4 481 0.005




38 Mosque; Matiari Stop motor Pump 0 0.4 489 0.005


40 Govt. School; Matiari Stop Hand Pump 0 0.5 654 0.1

41 Matiari Stop Hand Pump 0 0.5 720 0

42 Tamborochowk; Bhit Shah Hand Pump 0 1.3 1673 0

43 Tamborochowk; Bhit Shah Hand Pump 0 2.2 2720 0

44 Dargah; Bughiomohalla; Matiari Hand Pump 0 1.1 1389 0

45 Bughiomohalla; Matiari Hand Pump 0 2.5 3815 0

46 Bughiomohalla; Matiari Hand Pump 0 1.2 1498 0

47 Noor Shah Colony; Matiari Hand Pump 0 2.1 2780 0.01

48 Noor Shah Colony; Matiari motor pump 0 0.4 554 0.05

49 Noor Shah olony; Matiari motor pump 0 1.2 1519 0.05





54 Noor Shah Colony; Matiari Hand Pump 0 3 3780 0

55 Bhit Shah Hand Pump 0 2.7 3721 0

56 Bhit Shah Hand Pump 0 3 3785 0


58 Bhit Shah Hand Pump 0 3 3670 0


60 NasarPur Motor Pump 0 0.4 506 0.25


62 NasarPur Hand Pump 0 0.4 528 0.25

63 NasarPur Motor Pump 0 0.8 1198 0



66 NasarPur Hand Pump 0 1.8 2792 0.005


68 NasarPur Motor Pump 0 1 1218 0.1



71 NasarPur Hand Pump 0 0.4 491 0

72 NasarPur Motor Pump 0 0.5 567 0


74 Matiari motor Pump 89 0.3 358 0.025

75 UC I Hala Hand Pump 0 0.3 425 0.025

76 Matiari motor pump 0 1.6 2311 0.025

77 New Hala motor pump 0 0.9 1.84 0.1




78 New Hala motor pump 0 0.5 634 0.01

79 New Hala motor pump 0 0.5 672 0

80 UC I Hala motor pump 0 1.6 2317 0.01

81 UC I Hala Hand Pump 0 1.4 1750 0

82 UC I Hala Hand Pump 0 1 1167 0.05

83 Talabulmola colony hala Hand Pump 0 0.9 1084 0.1

84 UC I Hala motor Pump 0 0.5 716 0.05

85 UC I Hala Hand Pump 0 0.5 627 0

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Arsenic Contamination in Drinking Water Sources -ARS - IJCEE (1) 10 Aug 2012

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