Title: Effect of arsenic on soil, plant and foodstuffs by using irrigated groundwater and pond water from Nadia district, West Bengal

Authors: Tarit Roychowdhury, Tadashi Uchino, Hiroshi Tokunaga

Addresses: Division of Environmental Chemistry, National Institute of Health Sciences, 1-18-1 Kamiyoga, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 158–8501, Japan; Geo-Environment Management Division, National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, Nehru Marg, Nagpur 440020, India. ' Division of Environmental Chemistry, National Institute of Health Sciences, 1-18-1 Kamiyoga, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 158–8501, Japan. ' Division of Environmental Chemistry, National Institute of Health Sciences, 1-18-1 Kamiyoga, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 158–8501, Japan

Abstract: The total arsenic withdrawn by the seven shallow tubewells used for agricultural irrigation in the arsenic-affected areas of Nadia district per year is 3851 g (mean: 550 g, range: 118–2410 g). When the amount of arsenic in the groundwater is high, it has been observed that the levels of arsenic in agricultural land soil and plants are correspondingly high. Arsenic concentration in paddy field soil and plants is higher, compared to other agricultural field soil and plants. Pond water is safer for cultivation compared to irrigated groundwater.

Keywords: agricultural irrigation; arsenic; dietary intake; foodstuffs; groundwater; pond water; plant; soil; India; paddy fields; soil contamination; environmental pollution; water pollution.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2008.019395

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2008 Vol.33 No.2/3, pp.218 - 234

Published online: 11 Jul 2008 *

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