Arsenic exposure and perception of health risk due to groundwater contamination in Majuli (river island), Assam, India. 2020

Ritusmita Goswami, and Manish Kumar, and Nivedita Biyani, and Patrick J Shea
Department of Environmental Science, The Assam Royal Global University, Guwahati, Assam, 781035, India.

Island populations are rarely studied for risk of arsenic (As) poisoning. As poisoning, multimetal contamination and people's perceptions of health risks were assessed on India's Majuli Island, the largest inhabited river island in the world. This holistic approach illustrated the association of groundwater contamination status with consequent health risk by measuring levels of inorganic arsenic (iAs) in groundwater, borehole sediment and biological samples (hair, nails and urine). Piper and Gibbs's plots discerned the underlying hydrogeochemical processes in the aquifer. Demographic data and qualitative factors were evaluated to assess the risks and uncertainties of exposure. The results exhibited significant enrichment of groundwater with As, Mn and Fe along with significant body burden. Maximum Hazard Index values indicated severe non-carcinogenic health impacts as well as a significantly elevated risk of cancer for both adults and children. Most (99%) of the locally affected population did not know about the adverse health impacts of metal contamination, and only 15% understood bodily ailments and health issues. Various aspects of the island environment were used to elucidate the status of contamination and future risk of disease. A projection showed adverse health outcomes rising significantly, especially among the young population of Majuli, due to overexposure to not only As but also Ba, Mn and Fe.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007194 India A country in southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and Pakistan. The capitol is New Delhi. Republic of India
D007722 Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice Knowledge, attitudes, and associated behaviors which pertain to health-related topics such as PATHOLOGIC PROCESSES or diseases, their prevention, and treatment. This term refers to non-health workers and health workers (HEALTH PERSONNEL). Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
D004781 Environmental Exposure The exposure to potentially harmful chemical, physical, or biological agents in the environment or to environmental factors that may include ionizing radiation, pathogenic organisms, or toxic chemicals. Exposure, Environmental,Environmental Exposures,Exposures, Environmental
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001151 Arsenic A shiny gray element with atomic symbol As, atomic number 33, and atomic weight 75. It occurs throughout the universe, mostly in the form of metallic arsenides. Most forms are toxic. According to the Fourth Annual Report on Carcinogens (NTP 85-002, 1985), arsenic and certain arsenic compounds have been listed as known carcinogens. (From Merck Index, 11th ed) Arsenic-75,Arsenic 75
D014874 Water Pollutants, Chemical Chemical compounds which pollute the water of rivers, streams, lakes, the sea, reservoirs, or other bodies of water. Chemical Water Pollutants,Landfill Leachate,Leachate, Landfill,Pollutants, Chemical Water
D060587 Groundwater Liquid water present beneath the surface of the earth. Aquifers,Ground Water,Ground-Water,Subterranean Lakes,Underground Lakes,Underground Streams,Underground Water,Water Table,Aquifer,Ground Waters,Ground-Waters,Groundwaters,Lake, Subterranean,Lake, Underground,Lakes, Subterranean,Lakes, Underground,Stream, Underground,Streams, Underground,Subterranean Lake,Table, Water,Tables, Water,Underground Lake,Underground Stream,Underground Waters,Water Tables,Water, Underground,Waters, Underground
D062312 Islands Tracts of land completely surrounded by water.
D018570 Risk Assessment The qualitative or quantitative estimation of the likelihood of adverse effects that may result from exposure to specified health hazards or from the absence of beneficial influences. (Last, Dictionary of Epidemiology, 1988) Assessment, Risk,Benefit-Risk Assessment,Risk Analysis,Risk-Benefit Assessment,Health Risk Assessment,Risks and Benefits,Analysis, Risk,Assessment, Benefit-Risk,Assessment, Health Risk,Assessment, Risk-Benefit,Benefit Risk Assessment,Benefit-Risk Assessments,Benefits and Risks,Health Risk Assessments,Risk Analyses,Risk Assessment, Health,Risk Assessments,Risk Benefit Assessment,Risk-Benefit Assessments
D019216 Metals, Heavy Metals with high specific gravity, typically larger than 5. They have complex spectra, form colored salts and double salts, have a low electrode potential, are mainly amphoteric, yield weak bases and weak acids, and are oxidizing or reducing agents (From Grant & Hackh's Chemical Dictionary, 5th ed) Heavy Metal,Heavy Metals,Metal, Heavy

Related Publications

Ritusmita Goswami, and Manish Kumar, and Nivedita Biyani, and Patrick J Shea
February 2011, Environmental monitoring and assessment,
Ritusmita Goswami, and Manish Kumar, and Nivedita Biyani, and Patrick J Shea
December 2019, Economics and human biology,
Ritusmita Goswami, and Manish Kumar, and Nivedita Biyani, and Patrick J Shea
November 2010, Environmental monitoring and assessment,
Ritusmita Goswami, and Manish Kumar, and Nivedita Biyani, and Patrick J Shea
March 2015, Environmental monitoring and assessment,
Ritusmita Goswami, and Manish Kumar, and Nivedita Biyani, and Patrick J Shea
June 2018, Environmental monitoring and assessment,
Ritusmita Goswami, and Manish Kumar, and Nivedita Biyani, and Patrick J Shea
November 2019, Environmental monitoring and assessment,
Ritusmita Goswami, and Manish Kumar, and Nivedita Biyani, and Patrick J Shea
January 2018, International journal of environmental research and public health,
Ritusmita Goswami, and Manish Kumar, and Nivedita Biyani, and Patrick J Shea
January 2004, Environmental health perspectives,
Ritusmita Goswami, and Manish Kumar, and Nivedita Biyani, and Patrick J Shea
May 2000, Environmental health perspectives,
Ritusmita Goswami, and Manish Kumar, and Nivedita Biyani, and Patrick J Shea
August 2019, Water research,
Copied contents to your clipboard!