A Kolkata-based company has come up with a cost-effective and user-friendly arsenic detection and removal sensor that can even sense soluble arsenic. The sensor was developed in partnership with the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research.
"It is very different from the present day's available sensors, it is very easy to use, very cost effective and anyone can use it to detect arsenic easily," said Sanjib Parial, MD of the manufacturing company.
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Drinking water contaminated with arsenic can cause lung, bladder, and kidney cancer even 40 years after exposure.
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‘The Arsenic Sensor and Removal Media is user-friendly, cost-effective and can easily detect soluble arsenic.’
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The product 'Arsenic Sensor and Removal Media' was unveiled on Wednesday.
"In the currently available media, the solution is provided with a newly synthesised polymer adopting green synthetic protocols," he said.
As per WHO, soluble inorganic arsenic is acutely toxic. Intake of inorganic arsenic over a long period can lead to chronic arsenic poisoning (arsenicosis), diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancer.
![Illegal Levels of Arsenic Found In Rice-Based Baby Foods]( "Illegal Levels of Arsenic Found In Rice-Based Baby Foods")
Babies are vulnerable to the damaging effects of arsenic that can prevent the healthy development of a baby's growth, IQ and immune system.
The arsenic sensing and removal mechanisms West Bengal had were not cost effective.
"The arsenic sensor is capable of sensing soluble arsenic, it is so soluble that it is very problematic to detect and remove it" said Parial.
"The sensor can sense up to parts per billion (ppb) level, which would be very useful. There are many techniques which sense parts per million (ppm), so ppm to ppb will make a lot of difference in sensitivity," exclaims IISER Director Sourav Pal.
The only country which mines arsenic is China. Arsenic pollution is a big problem in Bengal and neighbouring states.
"They are mining for a commercial enterprise, therefore, they can implement solutions at the company level but our arsenic is coming in the drinking water," said Thirumalachari Ramasami, former Secretary to the government of India, Department of Science and Technology.
"At this stage, we are quite far away, in fact, the whole world is far away," Ramasami told IANS when asked about the effective management of this toxic product.
According to WHO, the permissible limit of arsenic in groundwater is 0.1 mg per litre. In India the permissible arsenic level in drinking water was recently revised from 0.05 mg/l to 0.01 mg/l by the Bureau of Indian Standards.
In Bengal Malda, Murshidabad and Nadia have higher levels of arsenic concentration.
"For instance in Nadia district level of arsenic concentration is around 2.5ppm to 3ppm of arsenic in the water," mentioned Raja Shunmugam, associate professor of IISER.
Source: IANS
As per WHO, soluble inorganic arsenic is acutely toxic. Intake of inorganic arsenic over a long period can lead to chronic arsenic poisoning (arsenicosis), diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancer.
Illegal Levels of Arsenic Found In Rice-Based Baby Foods
Babies are vulnerable to the damaging effects of arsenic that can prevent the healthy development of a baby's growth, IQ and immune system.
Advertisement
The arsenic sensing and removal mechanisms West Bengal had were not cost effective.
"The arsenic sensor is capable of sensing soluble arsenic, it is so soluble that it is very problematic to detect and remove it" said Parial.
"The sensor can sense up to parts per billion (ppb) level, which would be very useful. There are many techniques which sense parts per million (ppm), so ppm to ppb will make a lot of difference in sensitivity," exclaims IISER Director Sourav Pal.
The only country which mines arsenic is China. Arsenic pollution is a big problem in Bengal and neighbouring states.
"They are mining for a commercial enterprise, therefore, they can implement solutions at the company level but our arsenic is coming in the drinking water," said Thirumalachari Ramasami, former Secretary to the government of India, Department of Science and Technology.
"At this stage, we are quite far away, in fact, the whole world is far away," Ramasami told IANS when asked about the effective management of this toxic product.
According to WHO, the permissible limit of arsenic in groundwater is 0.1 mg per litre. In India the permissible arsenic level in drinking water was recently revised from 0.05 mg/l to 0.01 mg/l by the Bureau of Indian Standards.
In Bengal Malda, Murshidabad and Nadia have higher levels of arsenic concentration.
"For instance in Nadia district level of arsenic concentration is around 2.5ppm to 3ppm of arsenic in the water," mentioned Raja Shunmugam, associate professor of IISER.
Source: IANS
Novel Genetic Tool may Help Reduce Arsenic Contamination in Groundwater
It could soon be easier to identify the bacterial species responsible for releasing a form of arsenic that contaminates the water supplies of millions of people.
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Genetic Screening can Identify People at Greater Risk of Arsenic PoisoningMass genetic screenings that track populations vulnerable to arsenic poisoning can help tackle its scourge in Bengal and across South Asia. | Advertisement
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