Arsenic pollution has become a severe environmental problem in India. Enumerate its various source, also discuss the consequences and measures to tackle it.

Arsenic is a heavy inorganic metal pollutant that causes great damage to humans and various other ecosystems.

Sources:

• Iron and steel smelting plants.
• Car plants.
• Mining sites due to leaching.
• Electronic plants as arsenic is used in circuits and semiconductors.
• Asbestos plants and factories.
• Nuclear power plants – used in fuel rods.
• Flyash of thermal power plants.

Consequences:

• Affects respiratory system of humans and leads to Asthma, Lung inflammation, etc.
• Contact with skin, eyes, etc causes rashes, dermatitis, and inflammation.
• World Health Organisation recommends that concentration of Arsenic should be below 50 parts per million, above this concentration it becomes dangerous to human health.
• Affect agricultural yield adversely and causes diseases in bovines leading to infertility.

Way forward:

• Arsenic filters, made up of charcoal and electrostatic precipitators need to be used at point sources.
• CPCB to mandate SOP for arsenic control and promote awareness.

National air quality index to also monitor it and report on it regularly.

Topics: GS-III: Conservation Environmental Pollution Degradation