Previous Year Question
Which of the following can be found as pollutants in the drinking water in some parts of India?
Arsenic
Sorbitol
Fluoride
Formaldehyde
Uranium
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
1 and 3 only
2, 4 and 5 only
1, 3 and 5 only
All of the above
Correct Answer: C
Detailed Solution
Because the geological composition of groundwater varies across India, elements such as arsenic, fluoride and uranium can naturally enter drinking water.
Human activities such as agriculture, industry, mining and excessive extraction of groundwater may also affect the mobility and concentration of these elements under certain conditions.
Arsenic is found as a drinking-water pollutant. Its principal source is the natural geochemical release of arsenic from arsenic-bearing minerals.
Arsenic contamination is particularly serious in the alluvial aquifers of the Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna plains.
High concentrations of arsenic have been recorded in groundwater in parts of several States, including West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Assam and Jharkhand.
Long-term consumption of arsenic-contaminated water may cause arsenicosis, skin pigmentation and lesions and several serious health problems, including cancer.
Fluoride is found as a drinking-water pollutant. It can dissolve from fluoride-bearing rocks and minerals and enter groundwater.
Excess fluoride is found in several arid and semi-arid regions of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and central India.
Fluoride in a limited quantity may be beneficial for teeth, but excessive exposure can cause dental fluorosis and, over time, skeletal fluorosis.
Uranium has also been found as a drinking-water pollutant in certain regions. It can dissolve into groundwater from uranium-bearing rocks and sediments.
High concentrations of uranium have been recorded in groundwater in Punjab, Rajasthan and certain other regions of India.
The principal health concern associated with uranium in drinking water is its chemical toxicity and its effect on the kidneys.
Sorbitol is a sugar alcohol used as a sweetener or humectant in food products, medicines and personal-care products. It is not a common groundwater pollutant in India.
Formaldehyde is a volatile organic compound. It may be present in industrial products, but in the context of the question, it is not among the pollutants commonly found in drinking water in some parts of India.
These groundwater pollutants can be controlled through safe water sources, regular water testing, appropriate treatment and sustainable management of affected aquifers.
Therefore, arsenic, fluoride and uranium from the list can be found as drinking-water pollutants in some parts of India.