Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Chemical Contaminants in Water and Associated Health Hazards

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Water and Health

Abstract

Both surface and groundwater are impacted by chemicals and availability of drinking water meeting the required parameters for health safety continues to remain a challenging task. Chemicals which have led to severe health problems are arsenic, reported to cause skin lesions, cancer, and other ailments and fluoride which lead to dental and skeletal fluorosis when populations are exposed to high levels. Their source is aquifers, containing the mineral salts and health problems are localized to regions. However, their presence in groundwater from new regions is being reported. The other metals of concern are lead, manganese, mercury, cadmium, and chromium which lead to skin, neurological, cardiovascular, reproductive, and immune function disorders and cancer. Source of these metals is mostly industrial, and problem in general is in pockets of heavy industrialization. Persistent organic pollutants (POPs), majority of which are organochlorine pesticides, are also of concern as their presence in variable amounts have been detected in waste- and groundwater. The source of POPs is predominantly discharge of waste and untreated water, sewage, and runoffs from agricultural fields into water bodies. Varying amounts, mostly in small quantities, of pharmaceutical and veterinary drugs residues, nanoparticles, chemicals used for personal hygiene have also been detected in surface water. Some of these have chemical structures similar to hormones and are termed as endocrine disrupters. These are new emerging chemicals of concern. New tools and technologies for their regular monitoring and for treatment of the water are required to safeguard the health from drinking water contaminated by chemicals.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Akter A, Ali MH (2011) Arsenic contamination in groundwater and its proposed remedial Measures. Int J Environ Sci Technol 8(2):433–443

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Asi MR, Hussain A, Muhmood ST (2008) Solid phase extraction of pesticide residues in water samples: DDT and its metabolites. Int J Env Res 2(1):43–48

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Banerjee N, Nandy S, Kearns JK, Bandyopadhyay AK, Das JK, Majumder P et al (2011) Polymorphisms in the TNF-alpha and IL 10 gene promoters and risk of arsenic-induced skin lesions and other nondermatological health effects. Toxicol Sci 121:132–139

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bureau of Indian Standards (2004) Specifications for drinking water. Bureau of Indian Standards, New Delhi, p 10500

    Google Scholar 

  • Central Pollution Control Board (2005) www.cpcb.nic.in/WQ2005/watmain2005.htm

  • Chacraverti S (2011) The Kolkata metropolitan area: probing for four toxic metals in drinking water. PROJECT REPORT (Project Supported by EEJP) Society for Direct Initiative for Social and Health Action (DISHA)

    Google Scholar 

  • Crinnion WJ (2009) Chlorinated pesticides: threats to health and importance of detection. Altern Med Rev 14:347–359

    Google Scholar 

  • Das B, Talukdar J, Sarma S, Gohain B, Dutta RK, Das HB et al (2003) Fluoride and other inorganic constituents in groundwater of Guwahati, Assam, India. Curr Sci 85:657–661

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fawell J, Nieuwenhuijsen MJ (2003) Contaminants in drinking water: environmental pollution and health. Br Med Bull 68:199–208

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Frost FJ, Muller T, Petersen HV, Thomson B, Tollestrup K (2003) Identifying US populations for the study of health effects related to drinking water arsenic. J Expo Anal Environ Epidemiol 13:231–239

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gupta SK, Gupta RC, Seth AK, Bassin JR, Gupta DK, Sharma S (2000) Recurrent acute respiratory tract infections in areas with high nitrate concentrations in drinking water. Env Health Prospects 108:363–366

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Holt MS (2000) Sources of chemical contaminants and routes into the freshwater environment. Food Chem Toxicol 238:21–27

    Google Scholar 

  • INSA (2011) Hazardous metals and minerals pollution in India: sources, toxicity and management. A Position Paper. Indian National Science Academy, New Delhi

    Google Scholar 

  • ITRC (1993) ITRC report on toxicological evaluations of marine and estuarine environment of the northeast coast (India). Department of Ocean Development (DOD), Government of India, New Delhi

    Google Scholar 

  • Jadavpur University (2006) Report on Ground Water Arsenic Contamination in West Bengal, India—20 years study. (http://www.soesju.org)

  • Janardhana RN, Sangita D, Das K (2011) Emerging challenge: fluoride contamination in groundwater in Agra District, Uttar Pradesh. Asian J Exp Bio Sci 2:131–134

    Google Scholar 

  • Jani JP et al (1991) Residues of organochlorine pesticide and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons in drinking water of Ahmadabad city. India. Bull Env Contam Toxicol 47:381–385

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kevin H (2009) Arsenic: environmental chemistry, health threats and waste treatment. Wiley, Hoboken, p 588. ISBN: 978-0-470-02758-5

    Google Scholar 

  • Kolpin DW, Furlong ET, Meyer MT, Thurman EM, Zaugg SD, Barber LB et al (2002) Pharmaceuticals, hormones, and other organic wastewater contaminants in US streams, 1999–2000: a national reconnaissance. Environ Sci Technol 36:1202–1211

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kozul CD, Ely KH, Enelow RI, Hamilton JW (2009) Low-dose arsenic compromises the immune response to influenza A infection in vivo. Env Health Perspects 117:1441–1447

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kumarasamy P, Govindaraj S, Vignesh S, Rajendran RB, James RA (2012) Anthropogenic nexus on organochlorine pesticide pollution: a case study with Tamiraparani river basin, South India. Env Monit Assess 184:3861–3873

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kunjappy R (2008) Progress and prospects on water: for a clean and healthy world with special focus on sanitation. World Water Week in Stockholm-2008

    Google Scholar 

  • Lamm SH, Engel A, Penn CA, Chen R, Feinleib M (2006) Arsenic cancer risk confounder in southwest Taiwan data set. Environ Health Perspect 114:1077–1082

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lohar V, Arora R, Arora V (2010) Nitrates and associated health hazards. Webmed Central Env Med 1(10):WMC001067

    Google Scholar 

  • Mahadev J, Gholami S (2010) Heavy metal analysis of Cauvery River water around Krs Dam, Karnataka, India. J Adv Lab Res Biol 1:13–19

    Google Scholar 

  • Makhijani SD, Mahoharan A (1999) Nitrate pollution problem in drinking water sources: monitoring and surveillance. Paper presented in the workshop Water Quality Field Test Kits for Arsenic, Fluoride and Nitrate held from 8 to 9 Sept 1999 at ITRC, Lucknow

    Google Scholar 

  • Malik RPS (2000) Agriculture and water quality in India. Towards sustainable management. Water Rep 21:73–85

    Google Scholar 

  • Malik A, Ojha P, Singh KP (2009) Levels and distribution of persistent organochlorine pesticide residues in water and sediments of Gomti River (India)—a tributary of the Ganges River. Environ Monit Assess 148:421–435

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Malik A, Verma P, Singh AK, Singh KP (2011) Distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water and bed sediments of the Gomti River, India. Env Monit Assess 172:529–545

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mawhinney DB, Vanderford BJ, Snyder SA (2012) Transformation of 1H-Benzotriazole by Ozone in aqueous solution. Environ Sci Technol 46:7102–7111

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mazumder Guha D, Dasgupta UD (2011) Chronic arsenic toxicity: studies in West Bengal, India. Kaohsiung J Med Sci 27:360–370

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ministry of Water Resources, Government of India. Ground Water Quality Scenario. http://mowr.gov.in

  • NEERI (1991) Water Mission Report on Participation of NEERI. NEERI (National Environmental Engineering Research Institute), Nagpur, India

    Google Scholar 

  • Nieuwenhuijsen MJ, Martinez D, Grellier J, Bennett J, Best N, Iszatt N et al (2009) Chlorination disinfection by-products in drinking water and congenital anomalies: review and meta-analyses. Environ Health Perspects 117:1486–1493

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Peters SC (2008) Arsenic in groundwaters in the Northern Appalachian Mountain belt: a review of patterns and processes. J Contam Hydrol 99:8–21

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rajiv Gandhi National Drinking Water Mission (2010) Report of an evaluation study by the Planning Commission, vol 22. p 17

    Google Scholar 

  • Raju NJ, Dey S, Das K (2009) Fluoride contamination in groundwaters of Sonbhadra District, Uttar Pradesh, India. Curr Sci 96:979–985

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rao P, Puttanna K (2000) Nitrates, agriculture and environment. Curr Sci 79:1163–1168

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rao P, Puttanna K (2006) Strategies for combating nitrate pollution. Curr Sci 91:1335–1339

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Reddy SM, Basha S, Joshi HV, Ramachandraiah G (2005) Seasonal distribution and contamination levels of total PHCs, PAHs and heavy metals in coastal waters of the Alang-Sosiya ship scrapping yard, Gulf of Cambay, India. Chemosphere 61:1587–1593

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rene PS, Thomas E, Thomas BH, von Urs G, Bernhard W (2010) Global water pollution and human health. Ann Rev Environ Res 35:109–136

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sendesh K, Ramasubramanian V (2011) Assessment of fluoride contamination in groundwater using GIS, Dharmapuri District, Tamil Nadu, India. Int J Eng Sci Technol 3:1077–1085

    Google Scholar 

  • Seth PK (2008) Chemical contamination of water: Indian scenario. In: Nath KJ, Sharma VP (eds) Safe water for community health. The National Academy of Sciences, Allahabad, pp 15–25

    Google Scholar 

  • Sharma S, Ramani J, Bhalodia J, Thakkar K (2012) Fluoride and fluorosis in context to Gujarat State of India: a review. Res J Pharm Biol Chem Sci 3:85–94

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Singh AP, Goel RK, Kaur T (2011) Mechanisms pertaining to arsenic toxicity. Toxicol Int 18:87–93

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Srinivasamoorthy K, Vijayaraghavan V, Vasanthavigar M, Sarma S, Chidambaram S, Anandhan P et al (2012) Assessment of groundwater quality with special emphasis on fluoride contamination in crystalline bed rock aquifers of Mettur region, Tamil Nadu, India. Arab J Geosci 5:83–94

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Subramanian V (2004) Water quality in South Asia. Asian J Water Env Pollut 1:41–54

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Susheela AK (1993) Prevention and control of fluorosis, vol 1. Health Aspects. Published by Ministry of Rural Development (RGNDWMA), Government of India

    Google Scholar 

  • Susheela AK (1995) Epidemiological studies of health risks from drinking water naturally contaminated with fluoride. Proc Rome Symp 233:123–134

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Susheela AK, Kumar A, Bhatnagar M, Bahadur R (1993) Prevalence of endemic fluorosis with gastrointestinal manifestations in people living in some north Indian villages. Fluoride 26:97–104

    Google Scholar 

  • Thodal CE (2009) Monitoring for pesticides in groundwater and surface water in Nevada, 2008: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2009-3093. 4

    Google Scholar 

  • United Nations Environment Programme (2002) Regionally based assessment of Persistent Toxic Substances. Indian Ocean Regional Report. UNEP Chemicals, Geneva, Switzerland

    Google Scholar 

  • Wakida FT, Lerner DN (2005) Non-agricultural sources of groundwater nitrate: a review and case study. Water Resour 39:3–16

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization (2010) Drinking water quality in the South-East Asia Region. SEA-EH-567

    Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization (2011) Guidelines for drinking water quality, 4th edn. Geneva, Switzerland

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The author is thankful to Ms. Shipra Gupta, Senior Programmer, Bioinformatics Section, Biotech Park, Lucknow and Mr. Shailendra Bakshi, Technical Assistant, Biotech Park for their help in preparation of this manuscript. The support of the Bioinformatics Section of Department of Biotechnology, Government of India is gratefully acknowledged.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Biotech Park, Sector G, Kursi Road, Jankipuram, 226021, Lucknow, India

    Prahlad K. Seth

Authors
  1. Prahlad K. Seth
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Prahlad K. Seth .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Center of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Mohali, Punjab, India

    Prati Pal Singh

  2. The National Academy of Sciences, Allahabad, India

    Vinod Sharma

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2014 Springer India

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Seth, P.K. (2014). Chemical Contaminants in Water and Associated Health Hazards. In: Singh, P., Sharma, V. (eds) Water and Health. Springer, New Delhi. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-1029-0_22

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation