{"id":113457,"date":"2024-06-12T19:15:11","date_gmt":"2024-06-12T13:45:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/?post_type=current-affairs&#038;p=113457"},"modified":"2024-06-12T19:48:03","modified_gmt":"2024-06-12T14:18:03","slug":"heavy-metal-contamination-in-groundwater","status":"publish","type":"current-affairs","link":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/current-affairs\/heavy-metal-contamination-in-groundwater","title":{"rendered":"Heavy Metal contamination in groundwater"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Researchers at the<\/span><b> Indian Institute of Science (IISc) <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">have developed a new three-step process to remove heavy metal contaminants, such as arsenic, from groundwater.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">IISc researchers collaborate with NGOs, including the INREM Foundation and Earthwatch, to test and deploy these systems in rural areas like Bhagalpur in Bihar and Chickballapur in Karnataka.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<table style=\"width: 99.9987%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"width: 100%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: rgba(184, 165, 217, 0.53); text-align: left; vertical-align: middle;\">\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt; color: #000000;\"><strong>Allowable Limits for Arsenic and Fluoride in Water (WHO)<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<h4><span style=\"font-size: 15pt; color: #000000;\"><b>Arsenic in Drinking Water<\/b><\/span><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">The safe limit for arsenic in drinking water is 10 parts per billion (ppb).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">This guideline helps ensure safe consumption and reduces health risks from long-term exposure.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4><span style=\"font-size: 15pt; color: #000000;\"><b>Fluoride in Drinking Water<\/b><\/span><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a provisional limit of 1.0 milligram per kilogram (mg\/kg) for fluoride in drinking water.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4><span style=\"font-size: 15pt; color: #000000;\"><b>Arsenic in Agricultural Water<\/b><\/span><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">For water used in agriculture, the allowable limit for arsenic is 0.10 milligrams per liter (mg\/l).\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><strong>About IISc new method<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The IISc new method is designed to remove <\/span><b>heavy contaminan<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ts from groundwater.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It not only removes arsenic but also guarantees<\/span><b> safe and sustainable disposa<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">l of the contaminants.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"vc_button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pw.live\/batches\/upsc?utm_source=seo+upsc+batch&#038;utm_medium=seo+upsc&#038;utm_campaign=seo&#038;utm_id=upsc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Enroll now for UPSC Online Course<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 100.301%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: rgba(184, 165, 217, 0.53); text-align: left; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Heavy Metals\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">It is defined as the metallic elements with high density compared to water.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">It comprises metalloids like arsenic.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">The toxicity due to heavy metal is very challenging as it is soluble in water and easily absorbed by living organisms<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Examples<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Iron, copper,\u00a0 tin, and precious metals such as silver, gold, and platinum<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-113487 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/124-6669ac58d080f.webp\" alt=\"Metal contamination\" width=\"451\" height=\"302\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/124-6669ac58d080f.webp 967w, https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/124-6669ac58d080f-300x201.webp 300w, https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/124-6669ac58d080f-768x514.webp 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 451px) 100vw, 451px\" \/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Further, It prevents them from<\/span><b> re-entering the groundwater system.\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This comprehensive approach addresses a major gap in existing arsenic removal technologies.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Three processes are:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"3\"><b>Adsorption:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Separating arsenic from water using a biodegradable absorbent.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"3\"><b>Bioremediation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Reducing pollutant concentration.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"3\"><b>Environmentally Friendly Disposal:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Ensuring safe disposal of removed heavy metals.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-113488 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/125-6669ac5793ded.webp\" alt=\"Metal contamination\" width=\"452\" height=\"289\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/125-6669ac5793ded.webp 1082w, https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/125-6669ac5793ded-300x192.webp 300w, https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/125-6669ac5793ded-1024x655.webp 1024w, https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/125-6669ac5793ded-768x491.webp 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 452px) 100vw, 452px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><strong>Contamination Status in India<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Arsenic levels:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Reports indicate <\/span><b>113 districts <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">in <\/span><b>21 Indian states<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> have arsenic levels above 0.01 mg per liter.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Fluoride levels:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Additionally, 223 districts in 23 states have fluoride levels exceeding 1.5 mg per liter.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These levels are above the permissible limits set by the Bureau of Indian Standards and the World Health Organization (WHO), posing health risks.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"vc_button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/store.pw.live\/govt-entrance-exams\/upsc-books\/upsc-modules?utm_source=SEO&#038;utm_medium=PW+Live&#038;utm_campaign=UPSC+Modules\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Check Out UPSC Modules From PW Store<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 100.342%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 138.421%; 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