Groundwater Arsenic Contamination in Bihar: Causes, Issues and Challenges

Abstract

Around forty percent of the district of Bihar is having arsenic in its groundwater. The causes of arsenic contamination are mostly through geogenic channel. Excess use of arsenic in drinking water over prolonged period leads to primary, secondary and tertiary health impacts. The agricultural activity is getting hampered due to decline in soil fertility, productivity, and, nuisance of food chain problem. Social problems like depression, suicidal tendency and social ignorance are common, and, therefore, hinder the social and economic activity to the affected person. The majority of the population residing in the arsenic prone belt are from low income and are not aware about the problems of the arsenic menace. The challenges are on the mitigation (at macro) and adaptation (micro and macro) activity. Therefore both short and long term mitigation strategy is needed.