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Health effect and risk assessment of the populations exposed to different arsenic levels in drinking water and foodstuffs from four villages in arsenic endemic Gaighata block, West Bengal, India

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Abstract

Health exposure and perception of risk assessment have been evaluated on the populations exposed to different arsenic levels in drinking water (615, 301, 48, 20 µg/l), rice grain (792, 487, 588, 569 µg/kg) and vegetables (283, 187, 238, 300 µg/kg) from four villages in arsenic endemic Gaighata block, West Bengal. Dietary arsenic intake rates for the studied populations from extremely highly, highly, moderately, and mild arsenic-exposed areas were 56.03, 28.73, 11.30, and 9.13 μg/kg bw/day, respectively. Acute and chronic effects of arsenic toxicity were observed in ascending order from mild to extremely highly exposed populations. Statistical interpretation using ‘ANOVA’ proves a significant relationship between drinking water and biomarkers, whereas “two-tailed paired t test” justifies that the consumption of arsenic-contaminated dietary intakes is the considerable pathway of health risk exposure. According to the risk thermometer (SAMOE), drinking water belongs to risk class 5 (extremely highly and highly exposed area) and 4 (moderately and mild exposed area) category, whereas rice grain and vegetables belong to risk class 5 and 4, respectively, for all the differently exposed populations. The carcinogenic (ILCR) and non-carcinogenic risks (HQ) through dietary intakes for adults were much higher than the recommended threshold level, compared to the children. Supplementation of arsenic-safe drinking water and nutritional food is strictly recommended to overcome the severe arsenic crisis.

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Acknowledgement

We acknowledge the help of ‘field workers’ for collection of required samples. The authors further acknowledge the local family members in the villages for showing their willingness to be involved into the work and providing the samples and related information to carry forward the research study. Financial supports from “Department of Science & Technology’, Government of West Bengal (research project grant Memo No. 262(Sanc.)/ST/P/S&T/1G-64/2017, dated 25/3/2018) and Inter University Research Project, RUSA (R-11/1092/19, dated 06/08/2019) are highly acknowledged.

Funding

Department of Science & Technology, Government of West Bengal (Research Project Grant Memo No. 262 (Sanc.)/ST/P/S&T/1G-64/2017, dated 25/3/2018) and Inter University Research Project, RUSA (R-11/1092/19, dated 06/08/2019).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Environmental Studies, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, 700032, India

    Madhurima Joardar, Antara Das, Nilanjana Roy Chowdhury, Deepanjan Mridha, Ayan De & Tarit Roychowdhury

  2. Department of Community Medicine, KPC Medical College & Hospital, Jadavpur, Kolkata, 700032, India

    Kunal Kanti Majumdar

Authors
  1. Madhurima Joardar
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  2. Antara Das
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  3. Nilanjana Roy Chowdhury
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  4. Deepanjan Mridha
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  5. Ayan De
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  6. Kunal Kanti Majumdar
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  7. Tarit Roychowdhury
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Contributions

MJ was involved in research planning, analytical work, statistical presentation and initial draft preparation. AD performed analysis, statistical presentation and draft checking. NRC contributed to analysis and statistical presentation. DM and AD performed field survey, collection of samples and information from fields. KKM done identification of dermatological skin manifestations and health check-up of the studied populations. TR was involved in overall supervise the entire research study, manuscript revision and correction.

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Correspondence to Tarit Roychowdhury.

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Joardar, M., Das, A., Chowdhury, N.R. et al. Health effect and risk assessment of the populations exposed to different arsenic levels in drinking water and foodstuffs from four villages in arsenic endemic Gaighata block, West Bengal, India. Environ Geochem Health 43, 3027–3053 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-021-00823-3

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