Groundwater Arsenic Contamination and Associated Health Hazards in Kangra District of Himachal Pradesh, India

Groundwater arsenic contamination is a global problem. Many states of India are extensively polluted with arsenic, while a few have safe groundwater. Himachal Pradesh is still considered safe from groundwater arsenic contamination. Assessment of water quality and arsenic contamination in groundwater and its associated health hazards in the people of Kangra district. 300 samples were collected from all 17 blocks of Kangra and analyzed for arsenic, TDS, pH, and Depth of water source. Arsenic was analyzed through Merck's field test kits. TDS and pH were analyzed using standards protocol. A questionnaire-based health survey was carried out for health assessment. It was observed that the arsenic levels were above 10 ppb in 4.66% of samples. Khundian tehsil had a mean arsenic level of 25.83 +/- 30.59 ppb, while Jawalamukhi had 10.38 +/- 13.14 ppb. It was also observed that deep water sources have higher arsenic levels than shallow sources. TDS levels were also above the WHO limit in 24% of samples, and TDS was higher in deeper groundwater than in shallow sources. Groundwater pH levels were 5.78 in Bhawarna and 9.4 in Baijnath. 7.66% were reported with hypertension 3.32% with G.I. disorders, 3.66% with diabetes, 2.33% are showing skin diseases, and almost 7.66% are showing stone formation in the kidney and gall bladder. Kangra had groundwater arsenic contamination in 4.52% of samples. Cases of hypertension, diabetes, and stone formation were more than seven percent in people with chronic arsenic exposure.