Experts warned on Sunday that arsenic concentration in groundwater has reached alarming levels, and drinking arsenic-contaminated water is one of major causes of arsenicosis, a clinical syndrome in people of urban centres in the country.
If water has been contaminated by toxic substances, reliable drinking water treatment is essential, they believe. Professor of Chemistry Dr. Muhammad Ijaz Bhatti told APP that inorganic arsenic is found in groundwater worldwide, which is present as an ionic arsenate or uncharged arsenite depending on the redox potential. Water is ranked second only to oxygen in terms of its significance for human survival, being an essential element for human body, he said. Approximately, 40 to 60 per cent of the human body’s weight consists of water, he said adding drinking water is regarded as safe and suitable for consumption, when it adheres to the guidelines set by the World Health Organisation (WHO) or the regulatory body of any region, Bhatti said.
Furthermore, one of fundamental human rights is access to safe and potable water, yet the majority of the world’s population, particularly in less economically advanced nations, is deprived of the essential commodity, regrets the WHO. Arsenic is a tasteless and odorless element that belongs to the nitrogen family in the periodic table. It combines with other elements to form arsenical compounds in the form of inorganic and organic in nature, he explained. Inorganic derivatives are more toxic than organic products, and inorganic arsenic has been recognised as a substance that can cause cancer in humans. He said arsenic is predominantly found in groundwater as arsenate as (V) and arsenide as (III).
The main forms in which arsenic is is found in groundwater of the country are arsenide. In Pakistan, for instance, only 30 per cent of the population has access to piped water, which is rarely subjected to thorough analysis for drinking water parameters, leaving 70 per cent of the population drinking water of unknown quality. Likewise, in Punjab, most populace uses groundwater for drinking purposes. Groundwater is pumped out through wells, by hand pumps and electric pumps. Therefore, it is need of the hour to measure the concentration levels of arsenic in drinking water, pumped out from ground in Lahore and other parts of the province, he said. Meanwhile, particularly in Lahore, regular studies have shown very high concentrations regionally which can lead to chronic poisoning, that is harmful to health.
To a query, he said as a treatment, GEH 102, is a high-performance adsorbent based on granular ferric hydroxide. Made in a patented manufacturing process, it was specially developed for selective removal of arsenic from water, he said. Recognised for its high quality and purity, GEH 102 adsorbent complies with all requirements of DIN EN 15029 for drinking water treatment. In addition, it is certified in accordance with NSF/ANSI Standard 61. GEH 102 removes both arsenates and arsenites. Its adsorption capacity is dependent on the characteristics and composition of the water treated as well as the operating conditions due to drinking arsenic-contaminated water. Meanwhile, in a recent study, by the provincial Local Government and Community Development department in the Punjab province, 4,547 drinking water samples were collected and analysed using atomic absorption spectrometry technique. The study outcome reveal that arsenic levels in drinking water varied from 6 to 12 ng ml-1 with a mean value of 8.5±1.6 ng ml-1, that is below the recommended WHO guidelines of 10 ng ml-1 for drinking water. Former LDA Director Aslam Langah told APP that environmental health hazards are not limited to the developing world, rather environmental risks have also been generated in wealthier countries and are primarily attributed to urban air and water pollution.
