A research work conducted by the scientists from Patna’s Mahavir Cancer Sansthan in Bihar’s Gangetic plains has found the presence of manganese in water is four-and-half times more than the danger level that triggers cancer. This research opens a new page concerning call for action that concern water pollution and its effect to the health of the people.
Study Findings
The study analyzed blood samples from 1,146 cancer patients across six districts in Bihar: These are Patna, Vaishali, East Champaran, Muzaffarpur, Siwan and Saran. The findings revealed a strong relationship between blood manganese, as well as water, from household hand pumps utilized by these patients. The manganese concentration in blood samples for all the participants in the cross section study was 733µg/L while the maximum value was 6022µg/L which is high above the WHO permissible limit.
Health Implications
The element is naturally occurring but is toxic and can cause neurological and respiratory problems in those who are exposed to high levels of the mineral. According to the study, extended consumption of water with manganese content can be attributed to the increasing cancer incidence in the region. Despite stating that manganese is not the root cause of cancer, the researchers claimed that manganese is an important cause of cancer that should not be ignored in the environment.
Regional Impact
Latterly, the Gangetic plains of Bihar are found to have an elevated rate of cancer-related deaths in the last few decades. It was demonstrated that breast cancer was leading type and hepatobiliary and gastrointestinal cancers were the second. The high manganese content in water supplies is especially problematic since the area depends much on groundwater for both human consumption and crop production.
Measures Regarding the Environment and the Health of the General Population
This study also underlines a need for concrete actions to counter manganese in water supplies. These measures consist of: increased control of discharged, enhanced system of waste disposal, and the adoption of sophisticated water treatment processes. Awareness about manganese hazards and how the people can get better water is also an important part of prevention efforts.
Sources of Water Pollution in the Gangetic Plains
The Gangetic plain which is productive ground of India, Nepal and Bangladesh are in trouble due to water pollution. Several reasons exist that lead to this problem; they affect the people as well as the environment. Here’s an in-depth look at the primary causes of water contamination in this region:
Industrial Pollution
There are many pollutions sources in the world, but the industrial activities are the main sources to pollute the water in the Gangetic plains. Industrial facilities and production plants emit raw or partly treated effluents to water bodies and aquifers. Inefficiency in the treatment of this wastewater leads to polluting agents such as chemicals, heavy metals and many more polluting agents lowering the quality of water. This is especially the case due to the existence of industries along the Ganges and the tributaries which make up this river that play a very important role as sources of freshwater needed by millions of people.
Agricultural Runoff
Another factor which adds the Gangetic plains is that agriculture is a leading occupation of the people and use of fertilizers and pesticides has worsening effect on water quality. When it rains the said chemicals are washed off the fields and accrete in water bodies causing nutrient pollution. Some of these are nitrates and phosphates, these are popular for eutrophication, this is whereby water bodies get enriched with excess nutrient resulting into excessive growth of algae and depletion of oxygen. This leads to water pollution affects life forms in water and hampers its usability for human consumption.
Domestic Sewage
The Gangetic plains have witnessed rapid urbanization and population growth over the years, and this taken together with an increase in domestic sewage activity. Treatment of sewerage in many towns is still inadequate; and raw sewerage is often discharged into rivers and streams. This sewage holds different pathogenic organisms, organic compounds and other emanations that are a real threat to the health of such community that depends on those sources of water.
Geogenic Contamination
Geogenic contamination can be described as the ability of the geological framework to cause contamination of groundwater by poisonous substances. In the Gangetic plains, some regions are already known to contain naturally occurring pollutants including arsenic, fluoride, iron, and manganese. These elements can find their way into the ground water and the surface water and thus be a health wrecking factor to the population. For example, the water containing high concentrations of arsenic can cause several diseases for example cancer.
Solid Waste Disposal
Lack of proper waste disposal is another major source of pollution of water resources in the given areas. Another way of waste disposal from the source is open dumping and burning of wastes release toxic substances into the environment. When littering is not well done, wastes find their way into water bodies through water seepage and surface drainages. This is even worse when there is poor infrastructure in handling the wastes that are produced daily.
Mining Activities
In the Gangetic plains, mining activities are a main factor that leads to water pollution due to some undesirable discharges. Open pit mines for example use chemicals and are likely to produce waste products that pollute water resources. The water released from these mining sites may transport these pollutants into rivers and the ground water table, hence impure water and water borne organisms.
Climate Change
In the Gangetic plains, water pollution problems are further being compounded by climate change. Variation in rainfall, increase in the occurrence of cyclones, storm surges, and floods along with increased temperature affect water quality. For instance, warm temperatures escalate evaporation and precipitation brings heavy rains leading to enhanced runoff and erosion causing pollutants to be dumped into water sources. Secondly, it triggers increased growth of spoilage algae and bacteria, thus aggravating water pollution.
Potential Solutions for Water Contamination in the Gangetic Plains
Recent studies indicate that water pollution in the Gangetic plains region is occasioning serious environmental and complications to human health. This problem needs to be solved by implementing governmental actions, high technologies, communications, and environmental responsibility. Here are some potential solutions to tackle water contamination in this region:
1. Strengthening Industrial Regulations
Most of the industrial units located along the canals of Ganges and its distributaries are identified as major polluters of water. It is also important to take legislative measures what can help to strengthen regulating requirements and to impose control concerning water output of the industries. This includes:
- Enforcing Environmental Standards: Adhere with the national and international set environmental standards as regard to waste management.
- Mandatory Treatment Plants: Mandate industries to have and operate wastewater treatment facilities.
- Regular Monitoring and Inspections: Regular inspection and testing of water supply should be done, and industries that fail to meet these regulatory standards should be punished.
2. Agriculture for Sustainable Production
Fertilizers and pesticides used in agriculture are thus are some of the most causing agents of water pollution. Adopting sustainable farming practices can mitigate this impact:
- Organic Farming: The chemical runoff on the ground should also be minimized, hence call for the use of organic fertilizers and organic pesticides should be made.
- Integrated Pest Management (IPM): This calls for adopting of strategies that would reduce the use of pesticide.
- Buffer Zones: We should plant vegetation water edge lines so that contamination runoff gets filtered before entering the water sources.
- Efficient Irrigation: This means promoting the use of drip and sprinkler irrigation that will use lesser water and will not cause pollution.
3. Enhancing Sewage and waste Management Systems
Sewage disposal and waste management are some of the problems, which are very rampant in both urban and rural societies. Enhancing infrastructure and practices in this domain is crucial:
- Sewage Treatment Plants: Develop and improve on sewage treatment plants in area of high human development densities.
- Decentralized Waste Management: It is important to install decentralized Waste Treatment Plants in the rural areas.
- Public Awareness Campaigns: Engage the communities on the need to disposal waste appropriately and sort and separate the waste for recycling.
4. Addressing geogenic contamination
Geogenic contaminants like arsenic and fluoride require specialized approaches for mitigation:
- Alternative Water Sources: Explore other sources of potable water that may include; rain water harvesting and borehole water.
- Water Filtration Technologies: Utilize efficient and cheap technologies for filtering those contaminants.
- Regular Testing: Carry out monitoring exercise and come up with the testing results of the sources of water and promptly inform the communities about the available quality of water.
5. Enhancing Solid Waste Management
Inadequate methods of disposing of solid wastes lead to massive pollution of the water bodies. Effective management strategies include:
- Waste Segregation: Propagate source separation of waste so as to separate the biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste.
- Recycling and Composting: These should include installation of recycles bin for incoming wastes, composting bins to minimize on the number of wastes that ends up in the landfill.
- Clean-Up Drives: Initiate or participate in cleaning operations in water sources, and their environs in the society.
6. Mitigating Mining Impacts
The activities carried out in the mining process lead to discharge of pollutants to water. Addressing this requires:
- Strict Regulations: There is need to regulate mining activities to the extent that polluting activities are confined.
- Rehabilitation Plans: Design and carryout reclamation programs to help reshape the environment after the mining activities.
- Monitoring and Reporting: These inspections should focus on mining activities and the formers effects on the surrounding environment.
7. The Effects of Climate Change Mitigation Strategies
Water pollution is affected by climatic change. Adaptation measures include:
- Water-Sensitive Urban Design: In city planning, one must introduce water-sensitive urban design that can ensure that he/she manages stormwater efficiently.
- Resilient Infrastructure: Construct systems which bear flood or any other natural catastrophes with a view to avoiding water pollution.
8. Community engagement and education
Active community involvement and education are vital for the success of any water conservation effort:
- Capacity Building: Town folks need to be informed and recruited to protect their water resources and use appropriate techniques at the same time.
- Citizen Science Programs: ANYONE of ANY caliber should participate in processes of water quality assessment.
- School Programs: Plants within learning institutions should have parts that will create awareness to young persons on the right things to do to conserve water.
The Gangetic plains water quality improvement needs a comprehensive strategy that embraces, legal measures and technological solution, sustainable and people participation interferences. With these solutions implemented, the quality of water is protected, its health advantages sustained together with the long-term stability of this sector. It is therefore important the professions, government and industry to collaborate on the best environmental sustainability policies to adopt.