Salinity and Toxicological Studies of Waters of Rajasthan Desert

Ram Gopal; T. N. Bhargava; O. P. Bhati; T. C. Tak; P. K. Ghosh; Sushila Rai; Mankanwar Bhutra

doi:10.14429/dsj.31.6347

Authors

Ram Gopal Defence Laboratory, Jodhpur
T. N. Bhargava Defence Laboratory, Jodhpur
O. P. Bhati Defence Laboratory, Jodhpur
T. C. Tak Defence Laboratory, Jodhpur
P. K. Ghosh Defence Laboratory, Jodhpur
Sushila Rai Defence Laboratory, Jodhpur
Mankanwar Bhutra Defence Laboratory, Jodhpur

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14429/dsj.31.6347

Keywords:

Sulphate reducing bateria, Guinea worm, Dissolved solids, Fluorosis, Water borne diseases

Abstract

Detailed studies on quality of ground waters of Western Rajasthan have been carried out by analysing about 1500 water samples for presence of total dissolved solids (TDS) and other normal chemical constituents. 109 ground water samples were tested for presence of 8 toxic substances viz. As, Ba, Cd, Cr/sup +6/, Pb, Se, Ag, and CN and F and NO/sub 3/. About 9 percent of the waters conform to the normal standards of drinking water i.e. contain less than 500 mg/l TDS. None of the water points has been found to be contaminated with toxic substances. However, fluoride and nitrate were present in all the samples.

A survey of water-borne diseases, kidney diseases and fluorosis carried out to establish the possible correlation between prevailing diseases and dissolved solids in waters indicate that 82 percent of the reported cases are due to water-borne diseases. The guinea-worm (Dracunculus medinensis) has been found in the surface waters and sulphate reducing bacteria (Desulphovibrio desulphuricans) in the brackish water.