Who monitors pollution levels groundwater in India?
There are two bodies Central Groundwater Board and Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
What are the major groundwater contaminants?
There are two kinds of contaminants:
Geo-genic (available naturally): this includes Arsenic, Fluoride and Iron
Human-made contaminants: Nitrates, phosphates and heavy metals such as lead
Arsenic is a known carcinogen associated with skin, lung, bladder, kidney, and liver cancer
Fluoride can cause arthritic symptoms and bone fracture well before the onset of crippling fluorosis, and can affect many other tissues besides bone and teeth, including the brain and thyroid gland.
Nitrate can lead to methemoglobinemia, or blue-baby syndrome, which is a condition caused by the inability of the blood to deliver enough oxygen to the body
Lead: Young children are particularly vulnerable to the toxic effects of lead and can suffer profound and permanent adverse health effects, particularly affecting the development of the brain and nervous system. Lead also causes long-term harm in adults, including increased risk of high blood pressure and kidney damage.
