GUWAHATI: The Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) has detected arsenic concentrations exceeding the safety threshold of 0.01 mg/L across 19 districts in Assam.
ALSO READ: Know Your Candidates For Assam Assembly Bye-Elections 2024
The affected districts include Baksa, Barpeta, Bongaigaon, Cachar, Darrang, Dhemaji, Dhubri, Goalpara, Golaghat, Hailakandi, Kamrup, Jorhat, Karimganj, Lakhimpur, Morigaon, Nagaon, Nalbari, Sivasagar, and Sonitpur.
Arsenic is a highly toxic element that accumulates in the body primarily through drinking contaminated water. Over time, it can lead to a range of health issues, including cardiovascular disease, skin lesions, and various cancers.
Assam, where groundwater is a primary source of drinking water, faces significant health risks as millions are potentially exposed to these elevated arsenic levels.
Incidentally, a recent report by a Parliamentary Committee has also highlighted arsenic and fluoride contamination as critical issues plaguing the nation at the moment, affecting multiple states.