Q.46. What is arsenicosis? Discuss about cause
and effects of arsenisis. (AKTU. - 2013 - 14)
Ans.
Drinking water rich in arsenic over a long period leads to arsenic poisoning or
arsenicosis. Many waters contain some arsenic and excessive concentrations are
known to naturally occur in some areas. The health effects are generally
delayed and the most effective preventive measure is supply of drinking water
low in arsenic concentration.
The disease and how it
affects people: -
Arsenicosis is the effect of arsenic poisoning,
usually over a long period such as from 5 to 20 years. Drinking arsenic-rich
water over a long period results in various health effects including skin
problems (such as colour changes on the skin, and hard patches on the palms and
soles of the feet), skin cancer, cancers of the bladder, kidney and lung, and
diseases of the blood vessels of the legs and feet, and possibly also diabetes,
high blood pressure and reproductive disorders.
Absorption of arsenic through the skin is minimal and
thus hand-washing, bathing, laundry, etc. with water containing arsenic do not
pose human health risks.
In China (Province of Taiwan) exposure to arsenic via
drinking-water has been shown to cause a severe disease of the blood vessels,
which leads to gangrene, known as ‘black foot disease’. This disease has not
been observed in other parts of the world, and it is possible that malnutrition
contributes to its development. However, studies in several countries have
demonstrated that arsenic causes other, less severe forms of peripheral
vascular disease.
The cause: -
Arsenicosis is caused by the chemical arsenic.
Arsenic is a toxic element that has no apparent beneficial health effects for
humans.
Natural arsenic salts are present in all waters but
usually in only very small amounts. Most waters in the world have natural
arsenic concentrations of less than 0.01 mg/litre.
Arsenicosis is caused by exposure over a period of
time to arsenic in drinking water. It may also be due to intake of arsenic via
food or air. The multiple routes of exposure contribute to chronic poisoning.
Arsenic contamination in water may also be due to industrial processes such as
those involved in mining, metal refining, and timber treatment. Malnutrition
may aggravate the effects of arsenic in blood vessels.
WHO's Guideline Value for arsenic in drinking water
is 0.01 mg /litre. This figure is limited by the ability to analyse low
concentrations of arsenic in water.
Q.47 What are the main objectives of “Water
(Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974”? Write the fuction of CPCB in
“The water (Prevention and Control of Pollution), Act, 1974”. (AKTU. - 2013 - 14)
Ans. The Water
(Prevention And Control Of Pollution) Act, 1974: -
Objectives
of this Act:-
This Act has been passed to provide for the following
objectives:
(a)
Prevention and control of water pollution.
(b)
Maintaining or restoring the wholesomeness of water
(c)
Establishmesnt of Boards of the prevention and control of water pollution.
Definitions
of ‘Pollution’ Under the Act:-
“Pollution” has been elaborately defined as the contamination of water, or the
alteration of the physical, chemical or biological properties of watesr, or the
discharge of any sewage or trade effluent (whether directly or indirectly )
which is likely to render such water harmful injurious to
(a) public
health or safety
(b)
domestic commercial, industrial or other uses.
(c) life
and health of plants, animals or aquatic organisms.
The Central Pollution Control
Board (CPCB), statutory organisation, was constituted in September, 1974 under
the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. Further, CPCB was
entrusted with the powers and functions under the Air (Prevention and Control
of Pollution) Act, 1981.
It serves as a field formation and also provides
technical services to the Ministry of Environment and Forests of the provisions
of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. Principal Functions of the CPCB, as
spelt out in the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and the
Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, (i) to promote cleanliness
of streams and wells in different areas of the States by prevention, control
and abatement of water pollution, and (ii) to improve the quality of air and to
prevent, control or abate air pollution in the country.
Besides this, CPCB has an automatic monitoring
station at ITO Intersection in New Delhi. At this station Resirable Suspended
Particulate Matter (RSPM), Carbon Monoxide (CO), Ozone (O3), Sulphur Dioxide (SO2), Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) and Suspended Particulate
Matter (SPM) are being monitored regularly. This information on Air Quality at
ITO is updated every week.
Fresh water is a finite resource essential for use in
agriculture, industry, propagation of wildlife and fisheries and for human
existence. India is a riverine country. It has 14 major rivers, 44 medium
rivers and 55 minor rivers besides numerous lakes, ponds and wells which are
used as primary source of drinking water even without treatment. Most of the
rivers being fed by monsoon rains, which is limited to only three months of the
year, run dry throughout the rest of the year often carrying wastewater
discharges from industries or cities/towns endangering the quality of our
scarce water resources. The parliament of India in its wisdom enacted the Water
(Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 with a view to maintaining and
restoring wholesomeness of our water bodies. One of the mandates of CPCB is to
collect, collate and disseminate technical and statistical data relating to
water pollution. Hence, Water Quality Monitoring (WQM) and Surveillance are of
utmost importance.