Germans plan trials for arsenic removal from water in Bihar
By IANSFriday, April 2, 2010
PATNA - A team of German researchers is likely to begin next week field trials of a new technology for arsenic removal from ground water in Bihar, which has 16 arsenic-affected districts.
Arsenic, an odourless and tasteless semi-metal element, occurs naturally in the environment and sometimes as a by-product of agriculture and industry. It causes cancer of the intestines, liver, kidneys and bladder as well as gangrene.
“Two German researchers are likely to begin field trials by the second week of April in rural areas of Patna district,” said A.K. Ghosh of the department of environment and water management of the A.N. College. He is offering local support to the trials.
He said Mario Herman and Stesan Smidt, researchers of Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences, will carry out trials of the membrane technology developed by German scientist Jan Hoinkis.
“Its importance lies in a specially developed membrane with the ability to filter arsenic while extracting water from hand pumps,” Ghosh said.
The field trials will continue for about six months and will come out with suggestions to use the technology in the state, he said.
The researchers will carry out field trails in Maner and Danapur blocks, about 25 km and 15 km from here respectively.
The arsenic-hit districts in the state include Bhojpur, Patna, Bhagalpur, Khagaria, East Champaran and Muzaffarpur.
