IIT Mandi Highlights Cancer Risk from Toxic Metal Pollution in Baddi-Barotiwala Groundwater

A study conducted by IIT Mandi and IIT Jammu reveals the presence of cancer-causing pollutants in the groundwater of the Baddi-Barotiwala industrial area in Himachal Pradesh. Know details here

Researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology Mandi and IIT Jammu have analysed the distribution of cancer-causing pollutants in the groundwater of Himachal Pradesh's Baddi-Barotiwala (BB) industrial area. The study emphasises the necessity for enhanced effluent treatment to mitigate these risks. Geospatial maps were developed to illustrate metal contamination and associated health risks, providing residents with a clearer understanding of the situation and identifying pollution sources. These maps can inform future policies and remediation efforts.

The study discovered that the region's groundwater is predominantly rock-dominated, mainly composed of calcium carbonate. Uniform uranium levels were detected in all samples. While most metals were traced to industrial sources, uranium and molybdenum were found to occur naturally. The human health risk assessment indicated high non-carcinogenic risks for both adults and children, primarily due to natural uranium, with additional risks from industrial sources of zinc, lead, cobalt, and barium. Carcinogenic risks were found to be high for adults, mainly from industrial nickel and chromium.

Considering that over 80% of health issues in developing countries are linked to waterborne diseases, resulting in 1.5 million deaths annually from poor water quality and hygiene, the importance of this study cannot be overstated.

Dr. Deepak Swami, Associate Professor, School of Civil & Environmental Engineering, IIT Mandi, along with his research scholar Mr. Utsav Rajput, in collaboration with Dr. Nitin Joshi, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Civil Engineering, IIT Jammu, have published a research paper in the prestigious journal, Science of the Total Environment, that investigates the chemical hydrology of groundwater in the region, identifying dominant ion sources and measuring the geospatial variation of toxic metal concentrations.

Speaking about the research, Dr. Deepak Swami, Associate Professor, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, IIT Mandi, said, “Groundwater poses high health risks through oral intake, necessitating urgent remediation. Monitoring industrial effluents for zinc, lead, nickel, and chromium is essential to prevent health hazards. Policies must be framed to balance industrial development with public health for sustainable growth.”

Dr. Nitin Joshi, Assistant Professor, IIT Jammu, Said about this research “Our research group conducted a field study to map the pollution status in the industrial region of Baddi-Barotwala. The objective was to analyze the chemical composition of the groundwater, which is considered readily potable by the nearby communities. The analysis revealed that, if left unattended, the lower Himalayan region is on a similar trajectory to southwestern Punjab”.

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