Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription or Fee Access

Solution to the Arsenic Problem in West Bengal: Exploring Some Non-Conventional Ways

Debjani Mandal, Manali Biswas, Bibhas Bhattacharyya, Indranil Saha, Debabrata Mandal, Shamsuzzaman Ahmed, Abhishek Basu

Abstract


Some districts of West Bengal have severe arsenic contamination of soil and groundwater. The clinical manifestations of arsenic toxicity include severe skin lesions; diseases of respiratory, cardiovascular, excretory system, hepatological, haematological and neurological disorders; and even death. We have isolated arsenic-resistant bacteria which have the adaptability to survive in high arsenic concentration, accumulate arsenic and convert it to its less toxic form. Therefore, we propose bioremediation as a cost-effective and convenient tool to mitigate the problem of arsenic toxicity. Also, we propose to synthesise Fe-based bimetallic oxide nanoparticles for removal of arsenic from contaminated water.

Keywords


arsenic-resistant bacteria, bioaccumulation, bioremediation, clinical manifestation of arsenic toxicity, Fe-based bimetallic oxide nanoparticles

Full Text:

PDF

References


Pais IJ, Benton Jons JR. The Hand Book of Trace Elements. Boca Raton, FL: St. Luice Press; 1997.

Saha JC, Dikshit AK, Bandyopadhyay M, Saha KC. A review of arsenic poisoning and its effects on human health. Crit Rev Environ Sci Technol. 1999; 29(3): 281–313p.

Rahman MM, Sengupta MK, Ahamed S, Lodh D, Das B, Hossain MA, Nayak B, Mukherjee A, Chakraborti D, Mukherjee SC, Pati S, Saha KC, Palit SK, Kaies I, Barua AK, Asad KA. Murshidabad–One of the nine groundwater arsenic-affected districts of West Bengal, India. Part I: Magnitude of contamination and population at risk. Clin Toxicol. 2005; 43: 823–834p.

Groundwater Information Booklet. Kolkata: Central Ground Water Board, Eastern Region.

Liu W, Tian S, Zhao X, Xie W, Gong Y, Zhao D. Application of stabilized nanoparticles for in situ remediation of metal contaminated soil and groundwater: a critical review. Curr Poll Rep. 2015; 1(4): 280–291p.

Lata S, Samadder SR. Removal of arsenic from water using nanoadsorbents and challenges: a review. J Environ Manag. 2016; 166: 387–406p.

Selvakumar R, Jothi NA, Jayavignesh V, Karthikaischvi K, Antony GI, Sharmila PR, Kavitha S, Swaminathan K. As(V) removal using carbonized yeast cells containing silver nanoparticles. Water Res. 2011; 45(2): 583–592p.

Mukherjee T, Chakraborty S, Biswas AA, Das TK. Bioremediation potential of arsenic by non-enzymatically biofabricated silver nanoparticles adhered to the mesoporous carbonized fungal cell surface of Aspergillus foetidus MTCC8876. J Environ Manag. 2017; 201: 435–446p.

Basu A, Mandal D, Bhattacharyya B, Biswas M, Saha I, Dhar G, Ahmed S. Analysis of biochemical properties of soil and groundwater in arsenic affected blocks of Murshidabad district and isolation of potential arsenic resistant bacteria. Eur J Biomed Pharm Sci. 2017; 4(9): 444–448p.


Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.