Arsenic contamination threatens lives

Experts warned on Sunday  that  arsenic  concentration  in groundwater has reached  alarming levels. Professor  of  Chemistry  Dr Muhammad Ijaz Bhatti  said  inorganic  arsenic is found in groundwater  worldwide. He said drinking  water  is  regarded  as  safe  and  suitable  for  consumption when it adheres  to the guidelines set by the  World Health Organisation  (WHO) or the regulatory   body of any region.  

One of  the fundamental  human  rights  is  access  to  safe potable water, yet the  majority of the world’s population, particularly in less  economically advanced nations, is deprived of the essential commodity, regrets  the WHO. Inorganic arsenic has been recognised  as a  substance that can cause cancer.

In  Pakistan, only  30  percent  of  the  population  has  access to piped water, which  is  rarely  subjected  to  thorough analysis for drinking  water parameters. Likewise, in Punjab, most of the population uses groundwater for  drinking purposes.  The groundwater is pumped out through wells,  by hand pumps and electric  pumps.

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Therefore, it is the  need of the hour to measure  the  concentration  levels  of   arsenic  in  drinking  water pumped  out  from ground   in  Lahore  and  other  parts  of  the  province,  Dr  Bhatti  emphasised.  Particularly in Lahore, studies  have  shown  very high concentrations in various localities. Meanwhile, in a recent  study  by  the  Punjab  Local Government and  Community  Development   Department, 4,547 drinking  water samples were collected  and analysed.

The outcome  revealed that arsenic levels  in  drinking  water  varied   but  were  below  the  WHO  guideline.  Former Lahore  Development Authority director  Aslam  Langah  said   environmental  risks  were   primarily attributed to urban  air and water  pollution.