WATER FOR SUSTENANCE OF HUMAN HEALTH AND

ENVIRONMENT

Chiranjeev KumarM. Sc., Environment Management,

Forest Research Institute, Dehradun

Water is a precious resource gifted by nature. But today it is

contaminated whether by chemical or fecal or natural due to over

pumping, is a challenge for accessing the safe drinking water. It

is a known fact that safe drinking water is essential for healthy living yet millions of people on the earth

are deprived of it.

Drinking Water Scarcity

• 40% of world’s population (3B people) will live in countries classified as water stressed by hydrologists by 2015

http://www.iucn.org

Deterioration of ground water quality in recent years due to

various human as well as geogenic activities is a threat to

humanity, as it is the only available safe drinking water

source today.

Depletion of water table in many areas resulting in emergence of chemical impurities like Fluoride and Arsenic in water is making it

unsafe.

Bihar one of the largest states of Indian Republic with high

groundwater potential is facing a serious water quality problem.

• Presence of high concentrations of fluoride, nitrate, iron, arsenic, total hardness and few toxic metal ions,

• Like surface water pollution, groundwater is also susceptible to contamination from various natural and man-made sources.

Fluoride

Fluoride in water is bad for our health

• FLUORIDE is a toxic • Fluoride causes fluorosis, a deformity of the

teeth • Fluoride causes and/or aggravates bone and

joint diseases• Fluoride aggravates diabetes & kidney

disease• Fluoride damages the thyroid gland by

replacing necessary iodine• Fluoride lowers IQ

FLUORIDE CAUSES AND/OR AGGRAVATES BONE AND JOINT DISEASES

FLUORIDE AGGRAVATES DIABETES AND KIDNEY DISEASE

FLUORIDE LOWERS IQ

• High Annual Mean Temperature

• Low Rainfall

• Low humidity

• F rich Natural subsoil rocks

• Vegetables from high F belts

• Fluoridated tooth paste particularly when used by children

Environmental Factors

Arsenic

Introduction

• Arsenic is common in the environment• Sources

– Groundwater– Arsenic containing mineral ores– Industrial processes

• Semiconductor manufacturing (gallium arsenide)• Fossil fuels• Wood treated with arsenic preservatives• Metallurgy• Smelting (copper, zinc, lead) and refining of metals and

ores• Glass manufacturing

• Commercial products– Wood preservatives– Pesticides– Herbicides– Fungicides

• Food– Seafood and fish

• Others– Antiparasitic drugs– Folk remedies

Bodily system affected Symptoms or signs Time of onset

Systemic ThirstHypovolemia, Hypotension

MinutesMinutes to hours

Gastrointestinal Garlic or metallic tasteBurning mucosaNausea and vomitingDiarrheaAbdominal painHematemesisHematochezia, melenaRice-water stools

ImmediateImmediateMinutesMinutes to hoursMinutes to hoursMinutes to hoursHoursHours

Hematopoietic system HemolysisHematuriaLymphopeniaPancytopenia

Minutes to hoursMinutes to hoursSeveral weeksSeveral weeks

Pulmonary (primarily in inhalational exposures)

CoughDyspneaChest PainPulmonary edema

ImmediateMinutes to hoursMinutes to hoursMinutes to hours

Liver JaundiceFatty degenerationCentral necrosis

DaysDaysDays

Kidneys ProteinuriaHematuriaAcute renal failure

Hours to daysHours to daysHours to days

Manifestations of acute arsenic poisoning

Palmer Keratosis

Biological Monitoring

• Urinary arsenic measurement– Spot sample (mcg/L)– Timed urine collection (mcg/24 hours)

• Normal values – Spot urine= ~10 mcg/L (10-150 mcg/L)– 24 hours urine collection=<25 mcg/24 hours– Whole blood= <1mcg/L (usually is elevated in acute

intoxication)

Treatment of acute poisoning

• Supportive care• Chelation therapy should be instituted

promptly (minutes to hours)– BAL (British anti-Lewisite)- IM– Succimer (DMSA)- PO– DMPS – PO, IV– D-Penicillamine- less effective

NOW BACK TO OUR STORY…

.

The story of the Earth is millions years old

Available Drinking waterAvailable Drinking water

Less than 1% of the total water on the Earth

Ground Water table in IndiaGround Water table in India

• In India and particularly in some parts of the country, the lowest depth for water is 175 feet and highest is

750 feet .

• Since the 1950s, global demand for water has tripled.

• Groundwater quantity and quality are declining due to over-pumping, runoff from fertilizers and pesticides, and leaking of industrial waste.

• Half a billion people live in countries defined as water-stressed or water-scarce;

• By 2025, that figure is expected to surge to between 2.4 billion and 3.4 billion.

- UNFPA

Water is precious - it's a miracle Water is precious - it's life Water is precious - let's keep it clean Water is our most precious drink

Water is our treasure – Let’s preserve itWater is healing

People use water in many different ways, we need it to survive, and if it wasn’t for the water cycle cycling

through, we probably wouldn’t exist.

Turn off tap while cleaning your teeth, shaving or washing your face. You can waste can up to 9 litres in a minute.

Take a short shower rather than a bath could save you up to 400 litres a week. If you do have baths, just half fill them.

Only use the washing machine and the dishwasher when you can put on a full load. It wastes both water and energy to run only a half full machine

Use a broom and bucket of water for washing rather than a steady flow of water from the storage.

Use a bucket of water to clean your car or if you use the pipe, ensure you use a shut off nozzle so the water is not constantly running.

Fix any dripping tap, you can waste 90 litres a week

Use separate water for drinking and washing

• The same water is used for both washing and drinking. People should be made aware of the importance of this valuable resource.

HOW WE BEAT THIS SITUATION?

Plant more Tree

• Deforestation has not only resulted in irreversible damage to the natural habitat of many wildlife species, but has also resulted in loss of biodiversity, increase in aridity and also depletion of ground water (lower down the water table).

Because• Deforestation affects the water cycle

• Reduces soil quality and results in soil erosion and flooding

• The land's capacity to hold ground water shrinks with the depleting forest cover

• The absence of trees leads to increase salinity in the soil cover and thus, affects the agricultural activity

Roots of trees save

33% of the rain water and preserve it after the rains

Forest is the mother Forest is the mother of the Riverof the River

Forested hills supply water to the plains.

Is it possible?

We need to plant We need to plant for our future….for our future….

Steps to prevent Water Scarcity

• Save the rain water.

• Don’t waste in the drain.

• Build rainwater harvesting in every house

Water harvesting – a time-testedtechniqueOur forefathers had a clear conception ofthe above characteristics of the Indianmonsoon rainfall and in their wisdomconstructed numerous water-harvestingstructures in different states of India.

Please think …

Much water flowed down to the sea making it unusable…

You are the light in this moment of darkness..

It is time to repent

to change, to protect,

to stand by and to Conserve