public health engineering department - Assam Online Portal

As-Is and e-Readiness Study report on Public Health EngineeringDepartment, Govt. of Assamon (i) concentration of arsenic ,(ii) consumption of water and (iii) nutritional status anddepending on these conditions it takes 6 months to 8 years to exhibit sign of arsenicosis.Phase wise manifestation of arsenicosis:First Phase: sporadic patches (black & white in color) in chest and back called melanocisdevelops which is followed by hardening of palm and toes and development of corn like blackspot called keratosis.Second Phase:The above symptoms are followed by severe cough, asthmatic problems,general weakness as well as anemia.Third Phase: The above complications ultimately leads to cancer of liver, lungs etc.Arsenic in Assam:Recently arsenic has been detected in ground water of one block of Dhemaji district and threeblocks of Karimganj district. Water samples of Hand Pump from Majuli riverine island of Jorhatdistrict and Manakachar area of Dhubri district are also sent to UNICEF, Kolkata for getting thesamples tested through Atomic Absorption Photo Spectrometer, as such instrument is notavailable in APHED laboratories. The detailed position of samples tested and correspondingresult are shown below:Name ofDistrictName ofBlockNos. of Sample Nos. of Sample exhibitingtested/sent for presence of Arsenic more Water Sample Testingtestingthan permissiblelimit of 0.05 mg/lAgencyDhemaji Sissiborgaon 20 310 9Total 30 12Bengal EngineeringCollege. Sivpur(WB) onbehalf of UNICEFForensic ScienceLaboratory, AssamGuwahati-19KarimganjSouthKarimganjSouthKarimganjNorthKarimganj68 273 2Bengal Engineering College,Sivpur (WB)behalf of UNICEFonSchool of Environmental Studies, JadavpurUniversity, Kolkata53 5 -Do-Ref.: AEDC/AOP/EOI/2009/10 Copyright : AEDC Ltd. 80