22 April 2012

Arsenic in the Water: How Much Are We to Blame

A study by Delhi University showed that arsenic is present in the waters of the Yamuna floodplains at five times the limit set by the World Health Organization. The study established the source as coal-based thermal power plants. Samples collected before and after a large monsoon in 2007 found the highest arsenic content in post monsoon water samples. While these high arsenic concentrations are caused by anthropogenic sources, they were certainly exacerbated by the monsoon in 2007. It's interesting now to think about how that monsoon, and other "extreme weather" natural disasters, are possibly affected by man-made global warming. With that in mind you could argue that humans are responsible for the arsenic contaminated water from all approaches.

1 comment:

  1. Wow! The arsenic in the fly ash was shockingly high in that article. Could the rain from the monsoons possibly be collecting the arsenic and adding it to the water supply?

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