Arsenic Water Pollution:
Arsenic toxicity has become a universal issue. It is found in trivalent, pentavalent, and arsine states in nature. The main ores are arsenic-pyrites, orpiment, realgar, and arsenopyrite. It is also found in the hot spring and seawater and exists in organic form in sea fishes. Arsenic in the element state is water-insoluble, but arsenic compounds have a varied range of solubility, basically dependent on the pH and other factors.
Sporadic instances of arsenicosis were reported early in the 1900s in the South American nation. The most affected nations were Chile, Mexico, and Argentina with newer nations gradually adding to the list. Amongst Asian Countries such as India, Bangladesh and China come to the forefront with news about arsenicosis pouring in from Pakistan and Afghanistan on one side and Myanmar, and Cambodia on the other.
The arsenic-affected region in India includes the Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna basin with a projected 25 million people affected in Bangladesh and West Bengal respectively. The latest report indicates West Bengal to be the most awfully affected state with maximum numbers of arsenicosis deaths from the South 24 Parganas and a huge number of cases being registered from Nadia.
Nor Surprisingly, Coachbihar, North Dinajpur, and South Dinajpur are now listed as affected by arsenic pollution. Pyrite deposition in affected districts about 60000 years old is perhaps responsible for the localization of arsenic in these districts. A current report indicates the tendency to include more and more states in the river basin. The state of Jharkhand, Bihar, UP, AP, and Chattisgarh is also announced to be in the grasp of this deadly disease.