A joint study by researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi and IIT Jammu has uncovered alarming levels of cancer-causing pollutants in the groundwater of Himachal Pradesh’s Baddi-Barotiwala (BB) industrial area. This comprehensive research utilised chemical hydrology techniques to analyse groundwater samples, identifying both geogenic uranium and industrial pollutants, including zinc, lead, cobalt, nickel, and chromium, as significant health risks.
The study, published in the journal Science of the Total Environment, was conducted by Dr Deepak Swami, Associate Professor at IIT Mandi, his research scholar Utsav Rajput, and Dr Nitin Joshi, Assistant Professor at IIT Jammu. Their research revealed that the heavy use of groundwater for agriculture and domestic purposes, combined with rapid industrialisation and urbanisation, has severely compromised water quality in Northern India, particularly in the BB industrial area. This has led to numerous health issues, including increased reports of cancer and renal disease between 2013 and 2018.
Swami highlighted the urgency of addressing groundwater contamination, stating, “Groundwater poses high health risks through oral intake, necessitating urgent remediation. Monitoring industrial effluents for zinc, lead, nickel, and chromium is essential to prevent health hazards. Policies must be framed to balance industrial development with public health for sustainable growth.”
The study’s findings indicated that the region's groundwater is primarily rock-dominated, consisting mainly of calcium carbonate. While uranium and molybdenum were found to be naturally occurring, most other toxic metals were traced to industrial sources. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) human health risk assessment model used in the study revealed high non-carcinogenic risks for both adults and children, primarily from natural uranium. Additionally, industrial sources of zinc, lead, cobalt, and barium contributed to these risks, with carcinogenic risks from nickel and chromium being particularly high for adults.
Joshi emphasised the gravity of the situation, stating, “Our research group conducted a field study to map the pollution status in the industrial region of Baddi-Barotiwala. The analysis revealed that, if left unattended, the lower Himalayan region is on a similar trajectory to southwestern Punjab.”
The study underscored the need for improved effluent treatment to mitigate these health risks. Geospatial maps were created to illustrate metal contamination and health risks, providing residents with a clear understanding of the situation and guiding future policies and remediation efforts.
Over 80 per cent of health issues in developing countries are linked to waterborne diseases, resulting in 1.5 million deaths annually from poor water quality and hygiene.
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