Table 1 Pollutants found in rivers and groundwater from some polluting industries and their
impact on human health
S. No. Types of
industries
Polluted areas
River pollution Groundwater
pollution
Health impacts
1
Chemical
manufacturing
Daurala (U.P.),
Ankleshwar,
Vapi,
Nandesari and
Bharuch
(Gujarat),
Bicchri
(Rajasthan),
Mahad
(Maharashtra),
Angul, Talcher
(Orissa),
Singrauli (U.
P.), Kolhapur
(Maharashtra),
Hyderabad (A.
P.), Eloor
(Kerala)
Dumping of
untreated
effluents has
severely
polluted
Amlakhadi,
Kolak,
Damanganga,
Mini, Mahi,
Periyar,
Nakkavagu and
Manjira rivers
Arsenic, lead,
aluminum,
cyanide,
nitrates,
fluorides,
chlorides,
mercury,
chromium,
nickel found in
groundwater.
Dirty, dark
water rendered
useless
Nervous
breakdown, skin
ailments, enteric
fever, digestive
disorders,
cancer, children
born with
physical and
mental defects
2
Pulp and paper
mills
Jaibheem Nagar
(U.P.),
Ankleshwar
(Gujarat),
Patancheru (A.
P.), Bharuch
(Gujarat),
Bhadravathi
(Karnataka),
Kala Amb (H.
P.), Kashipur,
Lalkuan,
Pantnagar,
Kichha and
Bazpur
(Uttarakhand)
Severe
contamination
of Kali,
Amlakhadi,
Kolak,
Nakkavagu,
Bhadra,
Manjira,
Markanda,
Kosi,
Ramganga,
Dhella, Bahella,
Kichha and
Pilakhar rivers
Iron,
chromium,
cadmium,
mercury, lead,
manganese,
zinc, nitrates,
fluorides and
pesticides
found in
groundwater
Skin diseases,
gastric
disorders,
cancer, kidney
problems
3
Tanneries
Kanpur (U.P.),
Ranipet and
Vellore (T.N.),
Dindigul (T.N.)
Ganga, Palar,
Ponnai rivers
severely
polluted
Hexavalent
chromium,
mercury,
arsenic,
pesticides
found in
groundwater
Lung cancer,
gastrointestinal
disorders,
damage to
kidneys and
liver, prostate
cancer, soft
tissue sarcoma,
testicular cancer
and bladder
cancer
(continued)
76
I. Khurana and R. Sen