ARSENIC LEVEL IN THE SURFACE WASTEWATERS OF KOLKATA AND ITS IMPLICATION ON SEWAGE- FED FISHERIES
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Authors
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Shyamal Chandra Sukla Das
Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Seven Bungalows,
Versova, Mumbai-61
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Subhendu Datta
2CIFE, Kolkata Center, 32-GN block, Sector- V,
Salt Lake City, Kolkata-91, WB.
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A. K. Pal
Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Seven Bungalows,
Versova, Mumbai-61
Abstract
Arsenic pollution is a major threat in eastern India and Bangladesh. In Kolkata,
sewage-fed fish is a very popular culture. Wastewater ofKolkata city is diluted
with freshwater and used in sewage-fed fish ponds. In the present study the
arsenic concentration in the surface wastewater from forty-four different places
of southern, eastern, western and northern parts of Kolkata was estimated.
In fifteen places, the arsenic level was higher than the permissible limit (0.20
mgll). But the arsenic level in the waters, sediment of fish culture ponds and
in fish flesh of sewage-fed fisheries of Kolkata was below the maximum
permissible limit. So, till date there is no threat from arsenic pollution to the
sewage-fed fisheries of Kolkata.
Keywords: Arsenic, surface wastewater, sewage-fed fisheries, Kolkata
