India and its Impact on Human Health

This paper is an attempt to assess the effect of drinking water quality on health of the people living in Renigunta, an industrial area near Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India. Drinking water samples were collected from 40 different locations of Renigunta and analyzed for physicochemical parameters such as pH, hard ness, alkalinity, calcium, magnesium, iron, nitrates, chlorides, sulphates, electrical conductivity, total solids (TS), total dissolved solids (TDS), total suspended solids (TSS), dissolved oxygen (DO), chemical oxygen demand (COD) and bio chemical oxygen demand (BOD). The found values of physicochemical parameters were compared with the World Health Organization water quality standards. Study of all these characteristics and correlation studies indicate that in some of the studied areas water was polluted and not suitable for drinking purpose. The drinking water of the area needs some degree of treatment before consumption and prevention steps to be taken from contamination.


INTRODUCTION
The quality of drinking water is vital concern for mankind since it is directly linked with human health.People of rural areas located around Tirupati are mainly dependent on ground water for drinking and other domestic needs.Thus, in this paper an attempt was made to assess the physico chemical analysis of drinking water in the view of health of human beings living in this area.

EXPERIMENTAL
Drinking water of different polluted locations at Renigunta area near Tirupati was studied during the period from March 2011 to August 2011.Electrical conductivity values were measured using Elico CM 180 conductivity bridge.Total alkalinity was evaluated by titration with standard 0.1M HCl using methyl orange and phenolphthalein as indicators 1 .Standard procedures [2][3][4][5] involving spectrophotometry, flame photometry and volumetry were used for the determination of water quality parameters.All the chemicals used were of AR grade.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Most of the waters are slightly alkaline due to presence of carbonates and bicarbonates.pH below 6.5 starts corrosion in pipes, thereby releasing toxic metals such as Zn, Pb, Cd and Cu etc 3 .All the sampling points showed pH values within the limit prescribed by WHO.
Hardness of water depends upon the amount of calcium and magnesium salts.Hardness value in the studied area varied between 423-538 mg/L.6 sampling points showed higher hardness values than the prescribed limit by WHO.Alkalinity is due to the presence of bicarbonate, carbonate and hydroxide compounds of calcium, sodium and potassium.Alkalinity itself is not harmful to human beings 4 .Alkalinity value in the studied area varied between 218-580 mg/L.8 sampling point showed alkalinity value within the limit prescribed and 32 sampling points showed higher alkalinity values than the prescribed limit by WHO Calcium value in the studied area varied between 78-320 mg/L.All the sampling points showed higher calcium values than the prescribed limit by WHO.If calcium is present beyond the maximum acceptable limit causes incrustation of pipes, poor lathering and deterioration of the quality of clothes.
Too high magnesium causes nausea, muscular weakness and paralysis in human body when it reaches a level of about 400mg/L 8 .Magnesium value in the studied area varied between 54-87 mg/L.DO value in the studied area varied between 2.3-5.7 mg/L.9 sampling points showed higher DO values than the prescribed limit by WHO.High amount of DO imparts good taste to water.BOD value in the studied area varied between 1.4-3.2mg/L.All sampling points showed BOD values within the limit prescribed by WHO.Ground water with high value of BOD is due to microbial activities related to the dumpsites.
When electrical conductivity value exists at 3000 µ mho/cm, the generation of almost all the crops would be affected and it may result in much reduced yield 6 .It is considered to be an indication of the total dissolved salt content 10 .Conductivity value in the studied area varied between 1094-2400 µS/cm.9 sampling points showed higher conductivity than the prescribed limit by WHO.

CONCLUSION
According to WHO, nearly 80% of all the diseases in human beings are caused by water 11,12 .The water quality parameters of the various areas of Renigunta, near Tirupati indicates that the drinking water samples are contaminated and the quality is poor for drinking purpose.After purification treatment only this water can be used for drinking.The values of correlation coefficients will help in selecting proper treatment to minimize pollution.Drinking water pollution in the studied area should be controlled by the proper environment management plan to maintain proper health conditions of people.