Arsenic Contamination in the Deep and Shallow Groundwater of Bara District, Nepal

Authors

  • Sadhana Pradhanang Kayastha

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3126/ctbijis.v3i1.14091

Keywords:

Groundwater, drinking water, arsenic, permissible values

Abstract

Groundwater is the main source of drinking water in the Tarai region of Nepal. Communities depend on drinking water of dug wells and tube wells. Altogether thirty six groundwater samples were randomly collected from dug wells and tube wells of Bara District, during pre-monsoon in 2012. The depths of the wells, ranged from 10 to 70 m. Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS), were used to measure the concentration of arsenic. About 50% of tube wells exceeded permissible values of WHO guideline (10 ppb), but 12.5 % tube wells exceeded permissible values of Nepal interim standard of arsenic (50 ppb). The risk of arsenic is high because the contaminated water has been continuously used for cooking, drinking and other purposes. This alarming situation therefore calls for measures to mitigate the problem.

Crossing the Border: International Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies
Vol.3(1) 2015: 65-70

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Author Biography

Sadhana Pradhanang Kayastha

Sadhana Pradhanang Kayastha is an Associate Professor at the Central Department of Environmental Science in Tribhuvan University, Nepal. She has conducted many research projects and has published a number of research papers in national and international journals. Her areas of interest are water, environmental pollution, geohydrochemistry, sediment, soil and climate change.

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Published

2015-12-10

How to Cite

Kayastha, S. P. (2015). Arsenic Contamination in the Deep and Shallow Groundwater of Bara District, Nepal. Crossing the Border: International Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, 3(1), 65–70. https://doi.org/10.3126/ctbijis.v3i1.14091

Issue

Vol. 3 No. 1 (2015)

Section

Articles