Sustainable arsenic mitigation and management through community participation

In recent times water pollution has become a gigantic health issue globally. Inorganic arsenic is one of water contaminant naturally present in very high concentration in the groundwater of many countries, creating an important public health issue affecting a population of 200 million globally. Arsenic exposure appears linked to increase in cancer, heart disease, and developmental problems. In Bihar 18 districts are affected with arsenic poisoning in groundwater. The maximum arsenic contamination in ground reported in Bihar till date is 1908 mu g L-1 observed village Tilak Rai Ka Hatta (TRKH), Simri Block of Buxar District. The arsenic exposed population of study area has developed many visible symptoms of arsenic poisoning like hyperkeratosis of sole/palm along with melanosis and rain drop pigmentation. In the primary school, the highest arsenic concentration in drinking water observed was 857 mu g L-1 while in the children hair sample the maximum value was 12.609 mg kg(-1). Finally, a community based arsenic filter based on adsorbent Hybrid Anion Exchange Nano Resin has been installed though joint initiative of Mahavir Cancer Sansthan & Research Centre (MCSRC), Patna in collaboration with Lehigh University, Pennsylvania, USA, which changed the life of the population with symptomatic relief related to arsenic poisoning.