IIT Mandi Study Warns Of HP Groundwater, Check Details

MANDI, 13th June 2024: Researchers fromIndian Institute of Technology Mandi,and IIT Jammu, have analysed the distribution of cancer-causing pollutants in the groundwater of the Himachal Pradesh’s Baddi-Barotiwala (BB) industrial area. 

numerous health problems
In India, groundwater is heavily used for agriculture and domestic consumption. However, rapid urbanization, industrialization, and population growth have led to increased groundwater use and a decline in its quality. Northern India has faced severe water quality issues. Similar issues are evident in the Himachal Pradesh’s BB industrial area, where industrialization has contaminated groundwater with toxic metals, exceeding permissible limits. The reliance on untreated groundwater has caused numerous health problems, including significant reports of cancer and renal disease between 2013 and 2018.

toxic metal concentrations
Dr. Deepak Swami, Associate Professor, School of Civil & Environmental Engineering, IIT Mandi, along with his research scholar Mr. Utsav Rajput, in collaboration with Dr. Nitin Joshi, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Civil Engineering, IIT Jammu,have published a research paper in the prestigious journal, Science of the Total Environment, that investigates the chemical hydrology of groundwater in the region, identifying dominant ion sources and measuring the geospatial variation of toxic metal concentrations. 

By determining potential contamination sources, the study evaluated non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health risks from oral intake of contaminated groundwater using the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) human health risk assessment model for both adults and children. The researchers identified key metals of concern and prepared geospatial maps showing metal contamination and health risks across village boundaries.

Published date : 14 Jun 2024 11:26AM