Due to the overall industrial development and human activities, the demand
for clean water in India is continuously on the rise. There already exists a danger to the
geochemical environment owing to the indiscriminate withdrawal of groundwater,
resulting in the release of Arsenic (As). In some localized areas this level of As has
already exceeded the World Health Organization’s (WHO) permissible limits (10μg/L
or 10ppb) for drinking water, leading to serious environmental and health
consequences. Arsenic is predominantly present as inorganic species either as arsenate
As (V) or arsenite As (III) in natural systems. In oxygen-rich environments where
aerobic conditions persist, As (V) exists as mono-valent (H2AsO4)- or divalent
(HASO4)2- anion, whereas, As (III) exists as an uncharged molecule (H3AsO3) and
anionic (H2AsO3)- species in moderately reducing atmosphere where anoxic conditions
persist. The concentration of arsenic above its permissible level results in skin
sclerosis. Arsenic gets deposited in the tissues of the vital organs and may cause cancer
of the liver, lung, and urinary bladder. This study is an attempt to (a) review the arsenic
problem in Uttar Pradesh, (b) to bring out the health issues due to arsenic, and (c) find
sustainable solutions to address the issue.
Keywords: Arsenic, Cancer, Environment, Groundwater, Heavy metals,
Inorganic, Remediation.
