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August 2012, Volume 3, No.

4
International Journal of Chemical and Environmental Engineering

Arsenic Contamination in Ground Water Sources


of District Matiari, Sindh
A.A. Uqaili*, A. H. Mughal , B. K. Maheshwari
Liaquat University of Medical & Health Sciences, Jamshoro, Sindh, Pakistan
*Corresponding Author E-mail: arslan_uqaili@yahoo.com

Abstract:
The presence of arsenic (As) has been reported across the globe in drinking water sources, Asia being the most significantly affected
area for arsenic contamination around the world. In Asia around 100 million people are at risk of arsenic contaminated water sources
and more than 700,000 cases have been reported for arsenic related diseases. Many research studies have been conducted for arsenic
contamination, furthermore many studies are being carried out but still there is significant lack of knowledge about the prevalence and
impact of arsenic and its epidemiology in under developed countries like Pakistan. The focus of this study is on the rural areas of
Sindh using ground water as major source of drinking water. In Pakistan groundwater arsenic concentration has reached up to 1100
g/L compared with WHO limits of 10g/L internationally and 50g/L for Pakistan. In the province of Sindh, around 36% of the
population is exposed to arsenic contamination above WHO limits. Therefore, keeping in view the catastrophic situation, a study on
arsenic prevalence in the district of matiari has been conducted to identify presence of arsenic in ground water. 85 water samples were
taken from district matiari from hand pumps and boring and did field analysis for salinity and total dissolved salts (TDS). Further, the
samples were brought in water testing and surveillance laboratory, LUMHS, Jamshoro where samples were tested for turbidity and
arsenic. Arsenic presence was tested by Merck arsenic kit for 0.00-0.5 mg/L. The concentration for arsenic was estimated by visual
comparison of the reaction zone of analytical test strip with the color scale. From the total of 85 samples, 60 samples are positive for
arsenic, and among those 22 samples are positive above WHO criteria for Pakistan (0.05mg/L or50g/L). This research is part of the
efforts taken to evolve and develop a community based awareness of arsenic hazards and sustainable arsenic mitigation system by
establishing spatial and temporal prevalence of arsenic in the study area.
Keywords: Arsenic, ground water, Matiari, Sindh

1. Introduction
Water is the most important and basic necessity for the
human life. Without water life cant exist and as the
population of the world is increasing the supply of safe
and healthy water has become a great concern. This is the
important debate for both policy makers and international
organizations dealing with the subject of water shortage
and safe water supply[1].
Among the safety and quality of water, arsenic has been
one of the important components in contamination of
drinking water specifically in the south East Asian region.
Considerable literature has been published in recent years
on the presence of arsenic in groundwater being utilized
by humans around the globe and particularly in Asia.
Arsenic has been identified in the underground water
sources of south East Asian countries and most
prominently in Bangladesh, along with India, Pakistan
and Nepal. In this research our main focus is on Pakistan.
The main source of drinking water in Pakistan is ground
water. Majority of people use the water without any
treatment or filtration so it gives rise to a number of water
based diseases. Arsenic is a naturally occurring element
and widely distributed in earth crust in the form of

inorganic arsenic compounds [2].


The consumption of contaminated water over long
periods of time is the primary route of human exposure to
arsenic. Though a lot of research has been carried out still
there is dearth of knowledge on the presence and
distribution of arsenic in water. The presence of arsenic
in water poses many health hazards. Among them the
common effects are skin lesions, skin cancer, itching,
night blindness, lung cancer, renal cancer, bladder cancer,
colonic cancer, peripheral neuro-pathology and vascular
pathology (Blackfoot disease).
Arsenic is an environmental contaminant that imposes a
high risk of morbidity and mortality. There may be many
areas in Pakistan that are not tested yet and may yield
high concentrations of arsenic. This particular study was
motivated by previous research studies conducted in rural
areas of Punjab and Sindh and aims at evaluating arsenic
concentration determining the spatial distribution of this
contaminant in Matiari district and ultimately gauging the
incidence risk in the environment of local community.

Arsenic Contamination in Ground Water Sources of District Matiari, Sindh

Figure 1 Countries affected on the current global scenario on arsenic contamination emphasizing on Asia [3]

Many studies have been conducted worldwide as arsenic


has become a very important aspect of environment and
community based research. Arsenic has been found as
underground naturally occurring substance contaminating
drinking water sources and giving rise to mass poisoning,
as arsenic is still undetected in majority of areas and
proper steps are needed to free the water of arsenic.
Among the research being carried out, Asia is the most
significantly affected area, and in particular, south East Asia.
Among the studies conducted around the globe,
maximum work is done over Bangladesh as arsenic is
considered to be at very high and alarming levels for both
health and environmental aspects. Contamination of
drinking-water by arsenic in Bangladesh reported more
than 50% population of Bangladesh using contaminated
water and out of 2022 samples around 35% are more than
50 g/L and 8.4% samples are alarmingly high at around
300 g/L [4].

August 2012, Volume 3, No.4

The Concentrations of Arsenic and Other Toxic Elements


in Bangladeshs Drinking water took samples from 112
tube wells of Bangladesh and around 50% samples have
arsenic concentrations above the WHO guidelines, along
with arsenic 30 more contents were tested and most of
them exceeding the normal WHO criteria [5].
Magnitude of Arsenic Toxicity in Tube-well Drinking
Water in Bangladesh and Its Adverse Effects on Human
Health Including Cancer reported that in Bangladesh 59
districts out of 64 have been already affected by arsenic in
underground drinking water, where this particular source
of drinking water is the main source for 97 percent of the
rural people [6].
20% population of Punjab is exposed to arsenic
contamination of 10 g/L and 3% population above 50
g/L and 36% and 16% population of Sindh is exposed to
10 g/L and 50 g/L of arsenic respectively [7].
Groundwater arsenic contamination a multi directional
emerging threat to water scarce areas of Pakistan
reported that in the province of Sindh, groundwater

260

International Journal of Chemical and Environmental Engineering

Arsenic Contamination in Ground Water Sources of District Matiari, Sindh

arsenic concentration has reached up to 1100 g/l


against WHO limits of 10 g/l. in district Rahim Yar
Khan and it was observed that out of 19307 samples,
9644 samples were within the safer limits <10 g/l
(49.95%) and the rest of 9663 samples (50.05%) were
found with varying arsenic concentration from 20 g/l to
500g/l [8].Arsenic contamination in underground water
of Matiari and Khairpur districts Sindh reported 37%
samples positive for 50 or >50 g/L of arsenic and 15%
samples positive for very high level of 250 g/L of arsenic
[2].
In the present study samples have been collected from
district matiari of Pakistan.District Matiari consists of
three talukas, Matiari, Hala, and Saeedabad. It is
connected to district Jamshoro in the west, Nawabshah in
north, Sanghar in the east and Hyderabad in south. In the
present work, we have sampled UC Matiari, UC Hala, UC
Bhit Shah, UC Nasarpur, and UC Faqir Nuthiani of
district Matiari [3]

extensively used. In many studies, it was found that


elevated arsenic concentrations in groundwater are due to
application of phosphate fertilizers (Campos, V., 2002,
Davenport, J.R. & Peryea, F.J. 1991). PCRWR conducted
a water quality survey in the study area, revealing higher
PO4 concentration in the study area (water quality status
in Pakistan, 2003). Therefore preferential adsorption of
phosphate on sediments is also considered a chief factor
for release of arsenic.
The total number of samples collected from district
Matiari were 85; 39 from UC Matiari , 19 from Bhit Shah,
12 from Nasarpur, 11 from Hala and 4 from UC Faqir
Nuhthiani (fig:2),

2. Materials and Method


54 water samples from Taluka Matiari and 21 samples
from taluka Hala were collected from hand pumps, and
motor pumps. Water samples were collected from each
source after allowing water to flow for 5 min. Water
samples were being collected in clean 0.25L polystyrene
bottles which were subjected to 3 times rinsing before
taking the water for sampling.
Field analysis was carried out for the conductivity, TDS,
salinity and temperature by the Senso direct con 200
conductivity meter. Arsenic was measured in LUMHS
Water testing and surveillance Laboratory with Merck
Arsenic Kit for 0.01-0.5 mg/L [9]. This test generates
arsenic hydride which reacts with the mercury bromide
present in the analytical strip to form a yellow brown
mixed arsenic mercury halogenide. The concentration of
arsenic was measured by visual comparison of the
reaction zone of the analytical test strip with scales of
fields of color.

3. Result and discussion


District Matiari includes three talukas: Matiari, Hala, and
Saeedabad. In the present working, Matiari and Hala
talukas were sampled. In these areas mostly ground water
as boring through hand pump or motor pump is used for
drinking. This was the base of collecting samples from
these areas for the detection of arsenic.
The release of Arsenic may be correlated to one of the
three most established theories:
Application of phosphate fertilizers causing release
of Arsenic due to presence of Phosphate.
Desorption of Arsenic due to reductive Dissolution
of metal oxy-hydroxides;
Oxidation of pyrite.

Figure 2 distribution of samples from district Matiari

The samples were taken from ground water boring


through hand pumps and motor pumps. 40 samples were
taken from motor pumps and 45 from hand pumps from
the above mentioned areas of the district.
The normal range of arsenic for under developed
countries given by WHO is (0.05mg/L or50g/L) and
internationally in developed countries it is (0.01mg/L
or10g/L). From these 85 samples 60 samples were found
to be positive for arsenic contamination fig 1.1, out of
these 60 samples 22 samples were above WHO limits for
Pakistan (0.05mg/L or 50 g/L) for arsenic as show in
table.1 & fig 1.2, 18 samples were positive at
international limits of (0.01mg/L or 10 g/L) of arsenic
and 20 were positive but below WHO criteria for arsenic
at the level of (0.005mg/L or 5 g/L) of arsenic and were
tested in the water testing and surveillance lab LUMHS
Jamshoro . These samples along with arsenic were tested
for turbidity, color, salinity, and total dissolved salts (TDS).

The area where this research was conducted, rampant use


of pesticides and fertilizers is being carried out on
agricultural fields particularly on cotton and sugarcane
crops with phosphate fertilizers being the most
August 2012, Volume 3, No.4

Figure 3 arsenic concentration from total no of samples

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International Journal of Chemical and Environmental Engineering

Arsenic Contamination in Ground Water Sources of District Matiari, Sindh


Table 1 (samples showing arsenic concentration 0.05mg/L or above)

S.
5
6
8
32
34
39
40
48
49
60
61

Sampling Area
UC Matiari Kacho
UC Matiari Kacho
UC Matiari Memon colony
Pir Noor Shah Colony; Matiari
Pir Noor Shah Colony; Matiari
Matiari Stop
Govt. School; Matiari Stop
Noor Shah Colony; Matiari
Noor Shah Colony; Matiari
NasarPur
NasarPur

Arsenic mg/L
0.05
0.1
0.05
0.05
0.08
0.1
0.1
0.05
0.05
0.25
0.25

62
64
65
67
68
69
70
77
82
83
84

NasarPur
NasarPur
NasarPur
NasarPur
NasarPur
NasarPur
NasarPur
New Hala
UC I Hala
Talabulmola colony hala
UC I Hala

0.25
0.1
0.1
0.25
0.1
0.25
0.1
0.1
0.05
0.1
0.05

The acceptable WHO range for turbidity is 1-5 NTU,


while in the samples which we collected, the range
extended from 0 NTU to 74 NTU. Total of 5 samples
were found to be above the WHO criteria fig 1.4.

Figure 6 Turbidity above WHO criteria

Normal TDS limits set by WHO are 500-1000 mg/L but


values of TDS found in collected samples ranged from
358 to 5318. With 49 samples out of 85 having TDS
above the WHO criteria (fig1.5).

Figure 7 Samples above normal TDS level

Figure 4. Arsenic above WHO limits for Pakistan

Among the 45 samples of hand pump, 26 are positive for


arsenic and 10 are above WHO criteria for Pakistan
(0.05mg/L). Similarly from 40 samples of motor pump 34
were positive for arsenic and 12 were above WHO limits
of 0.05mg/L as shown in table.2 and fig 1.3.
Table.2 arsenic detection among water sources
Total
samples

Arsenic
positive

Arsenic 0.05mg/L
or above

Hand pump

45

26

10

Motor pump

40

34

12

4. Conclusion:
This research is part of the efforts taken to evolve and
develop a community based awareness of arsenic hazards
and sustainable arsenic mitigation system by establishing
spatial and temporal prevalence of arsenic in the study
area. From the data collected and analyzed, the samples
collected from district Matiari have given alarmingly high
concentration of arsenic in the drinking water ranging
from 0.005-0.25mg/L. And it shows that this water is very
unsafe for human consumption and efforts should be
taken to decrease it, provide alternate source and educate
the community.

REFERENCES
[1]

Paoloni, J. D., Sequeira, M. E., Esposito, M. E., Fiorentino, C. E.,


& del, C. B. M. Arsenic in water resources of the southern pampa
plains, argentina. J Environ Public Health, (2009). 2009: 216470.
doi: 10.1155/2009/216470

[2]

Arain, G. M., Aslam, M., & Majidano, S. A. Arsenic


contamination of underground water in district matiari and
khairpur. jour.chem.soc.pak, (2007). 25(5).

[3]

Sengupta, M. K., Mukherjee, A., Hossain, M. A., Ahamed, S.,


Rahman, M. M., Lodh, D., et al. Groundwater arsenic
contamination in the ganga-padma-meghna-brahmaputra plain of

Figure 5 Arsenic among water sources

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International Journal of Chemical and Environmental Engineering

Arsenic Contamination in Ground Water Sources of District Matiari, Sindh


india and bangladesh. Arch Environ Health, (2003). 58(11): 7012. doi: 10.3200/AEOH.58.11.701-702

[7]

Smith, A. H., Lingas, E. O., & Rahman, M. Contamination of


drinking-water by arsenic in bangladesh: A public health
emergency. [Review]. Bull World Health Organ, (2000). 78(9):
1093-103.

Ahmed, T., Kahlown, M. A., Tahir, A., & Rashid, H. Peoplecentred approaches to water and environmental sanitation:
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conference, viantiane:2004, 662.

[8]

[5]

Frisbie, S. H., Ortega, R., Maynard, D. M., & Sarkar, B. The


concentrations of arsenic and other toxic elements in bangladesh's
drinking water. [Research Paper]. Environ Health Perspect, (2002).
110(11): 1147-53.

Haque, I. U., Nabi, D., Baig, M. A., & Hayat, W. Groundwater


arsenic contamination a multi directional emerging threat to
water scarce areas of pakistan. In 6th International Groundwater
Quality Conference, Fremantle, Western Australia,:2007, 24-30.

[9]

[6]

Khan, M. M., Sakauchi, F., Sonoda, T., Washio, M., & Mori, M.
Magnitude of arsenic toxicity in tube-well drinking water in
bangladesh and its adverse effects on human health including
cancer: Evidence from a review of the literature. [Review]. Asian
Pac J Cancer Prev, (2003). 4(1): 7-14.

Yu, G., Sun, D., & Zheng, Y. Health effects of exposure to natural
arsenic in groundwater and coal in china: An overview of
occurrence. [Research Paper]. Environ Health Perspect, (2007).
115(4): 636-42. doi: 10.1289/ehp.9268

[4]

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Arsenic Contamination in Ground Water Sources of District Matiari, Sindh

Appendix
Table 1(table of all parameters tested)
S.NO.

Sampling Area

Source

Turbidity NTU

Salinity %

TDS mg/L

Arsenic mg/L

UC Matiari Kacho

Hand pump

42

1.8

2028

0.005

UC Matiari Kacho

Hand pump

1.6

1981

0.005

UC Matiari Kacho

motor pump

2.5

3718

0.025

UC Matiari

Hand pump

1.4

1792

0.005

UC Matiari Kacho

Hand pump

3.1

3819

0.05

UC Matiari Kacho

Hand pump

2.7

3723

0.1

UC Matiari Memon Colony

motor pump

0.4

535

0.005

UC Matiari Memon Colony

Hand pump

3.3

4065

0.05

UC Matiari Memon Colony

motor pump

1.6

1995

0.01

10

UC Matiari Memon Colony

motor pump

2.9

4419

0.025

11

UC Faqir Nuhthiani

Hand pump

1.2

1582

0.005

12

Bughio Muhalla UC Bhit Shah

motor pump

1.2

1589

0.005

13

Bughio Muhalla UC Bhit Shah

motor pump

0.7

969

0.005

14

Bughio Muhalla UC Bhit Shah

motor pump

1.7

2430

15

Bughio Muhalla UC Bhit Shah

motor pump

1.1

1342

16

Bughio Muhalla UC Bhit Shah

motor pump

1.4

1722

17

Tambooro Chowk UC Bhit Shah

motor pump

2670

18

UC Matiari Memon Colony

Hand pump

0.4

516

0.005

19

UC Matiari Memon Colony

Hand pump

3.1

3820

0.005

20

UC Matiari Memon Colony

motor pump

4.1

5318

0.005

21

UC Matiari Memon Colony

motor pump

0.4

501

0.01

22

UC Matiari Memon Colony

motor pump

3.1

3818

0.005

23

UC Matiari Memon Colony

motor pump

0.4

498

0.01

24

UC Matiari Memon Colony

Hand pump

2.9

3517

0.01

25

UC Matiari Noor Shah Colony

Hand pump

64

0.4

548

0.01

26

UC Matiari Noor Shah Colony

Hand pump

0.4

485

0.01

27

Bhit Shah

motor pump

0.8

1014

28

Bhit Shah

motor pump

1.4

1771

29

Bhit Shah

motor pump

1.4

1736

0.005

30

Bhit Shah

motor pump

1.6

2319

31

Bhit Shah

motor pump

1272

0.005

32

Pir Noor Shah Colony; Matiari

Hand Pump

1.9

2418

0.05

33

Pir Noor Shah Colony; Matiari

motor Pump

0.4

533

0.01

34

Pir Noor Shah Colony; Matiari

Hand Pump

2.2

2810

0.08

35

Matiari Stop

Hand Pump

0.4

496

0.005

36

Matiari Stop

Hand Pump

0.4

520

0.005

37

Matiari Stop

motor pump

0.4

481

0.005

38

Mosque; Matiari Stop

motor Pump

0.4

489

0.005

August 2012, Volume 3, No.4

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International Journal of Chemical and Environmental Engineering

Arsenic Contamination in Ground Water Sources of District Matiari, Sindh


S.NO.

Sampling Area

Source

Turbidity NTU

Salinity %

TDS mg/L

Arsenic mg/L

39

Matiari Stop

Hand Pump

48

0.5

579

0.1

40

Govt. School; Matiari Stop

Hand Pump

0.5

654

0.1

41

Matiari Stop

Hand Pump

0.5

720

42

Tamborochowk; Bhit Shah

Hand Pump

1.3

1673

43

Tamborochowk; Bhit Shah

Hand Pump

2.2

2720

44

Dargah; Bughiomohalla; Matiari

Hand Pump

1.1

1389

45

Bughiomohalla; Matiari

Hand Pump

2.5

3815

46

Bughiomohalla; Matiari

Hand Pump

1.2

1498

47

Noor Shah Colony; Matiari

Hand Pump

2.1

2780

0.01

48

Noor Shah Colony; Matiari

motor pump

0.4

554

0.05

49

Noor Shah olony; Matiari

motor pump

1.2

1519

0.05

50

Noor Shah

motor pump

0.4

488

0.01

51

Noor Shah Colony; Matiari

motor pump

0.7

844

0.025

52

Noor Shah Colony; Matiari

Hand Pump

99

2.7

3728

0.005

53

Noor Shah Colony; Matiari

Hand Pump

3.1

3910

0.01

54

Noor Shah Colony; Matiari

Hand Pump

3780

55

Bhit Shah

Hand Pump

2.7

3721

56

Bhit Shah

Hand Pump

3785

57

Bhit Shah

Hand Pump

3.5

4210

58

Bhit Shah

Hand Pump

3670

59

Bhit Shah

Hand Pump

1.6

2310

60

NasarPur

Motor Pump

0.4

506

0.25

61

NasarPur

Motor Pump

0.4

511

0.25

62

NasarPur

Hand Pump

0.4

528

0.25

63

NasarPur

Motor Pump

0.8

1198

64

NasarPur

Motor Pump

0.3

427

0.1

65

NasarPur

Motor Pump

0.4

496

0.1

66

NasarPur

Hand Pump

1.8

2792

0.005

67

NasarPur

Motor Pump

0.3

419

0.25

68

NasarPur

Motor Pump

1218

0.1

69

NasarPur

Motor Pump

0.3

400

0.25

70

NasarPur

Motor Pump

0.3

374

0.1

71

NasarPur

Hand Pump

0.4

491

72

NasarPur

Motor Pump

0.5

567

73

NasarPur

Motor Pump

0.4

484

0.005

74

Matiari

motor Pump

89

0.3

358

0.025

75

UC I Hala

Hand Pump

0.3

425

0.025

76

Matiari

motor pump

1.6

2311

0.025

77

New Hala

motor pump

0.9

1.84

0.1

78

New Hala

motor pump

0.5

634

0.01

79

New Hala

motor pump

0.5

672

80

UC I Hala

motor pump

1.6

2317

0.01

August 2012, Volume 3, No.4

Colony; Matiari

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Arsenic Contamination in Ground Water Sources of District Matiari, Sindh


S.NO.

Sampling Area

Source

Turbidity NTU

Salinity %

TDS mg/L

Arsenic mg/L

81

UC I Hala

Hand Pump

1.4

1750

82

UC I Hala

Hand Pump

1167

0.05

83

Talabulmola colony hala

Hand Pump

0.9

1084

0.1

84

UC I Hala

motor Pump

0.5

716

0.05

85

UC I Hala

Hand Pump

0.5

627

August 2012, Volume 3, No.4

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International Journal of Chemical and Environmental Engineering

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