Arsenic contamination in ground water has become a global concern , more prominent in south-east Asian countries. This has thrown a challenge to our agriculture depending heavily on ground water depletion. With an unplanned and mindless extraction of ground water for supporting our irrigated agriculture, we have invited arsenic to go for poisoning our groundwater. Arsenic from ground water enters crop, livestock and human bodies and triggers up biological magnifications to do the silent carnage of health and ecosystem. In West Bengal, the eastern part of river Bhagirathi, is extremely vulnerable to arsenic contamination contributed by some geogenic factors. Heavy extraction of ground water during summer rice cultivation for this part of Gangetic alluvial tract keeps on creating highly favourable and conducive conditions for arsenic contamination. The threat also encompasses our adjoin Bangladesh where summer rice has become a main stay for ensuring food security for millions. The farmers and rural population at large suffer from severe health hazards, sometimes leading to untimely deaths, poor market demand for contaminated grains, fruits, vegetables grown on polluted water. The book is created based on ground level empirical researches to elicit the facts and factors impacting on arsenic contamination. The multivariate analytical tools help extract the direct, indirect and residual effect of different factors on arsenic contamination. This has offered huge policy research on safe ground water consumption. It is expected that this unique book will be of extreme interest and utility for the global audience.

Arsenic contamination is one of the serious concerns for public health throughout the world. During the weathering of rocks and minerals, which are followed by subsequent leaching and runoff, arsenic (As) is released into the soil and groundwater. Additionally, human sources can transfer it into the soil and groundwater. Depending on the geological settings, geochemistry, and geo-environmental conditions of an aquifer, different aquifers may have different adsorption and desorption processes, arsenic species, Eh, pH, solid phase dissolutions, and precipitations. Therefore, rigorous geochemical investigation for an adequate understanding of arsenic geochemistry under different hydrogeological and geo-environmental conditions of aquifers is essentially required for evolving sustainable solutions. All of the arsenic affected river plains have river routes originated from the Himalayan region. Arsenic in groundwater contamination has far-reaching consequences including its ingestion through the food chain, which are in the form of social disorders, health hazards and socioeconomic dissolution besides its sprawling movement, and exploitation of groundwater. Food crops produced with arsenic tainted water are marketed to other locations, including areas where people may eat the tainted food and be exposed to arsenic. The arsenic contamination of groundwater is a form of groundwater pollution which is due to naturally occurring high concentrations of arsenic in deeper levels of groundwater.

Arsenic contamination of groundwater is a form of groundwater pollution that is often due to naturally occurring high concentrations of arsenic in deeper levels of groundwater. The Ganges Delta’s usage of deep tube wells for water delivery has raised awareness of the issue because it has led to widespread arsenic poisoning in significant numbers of people. During the weathering of rocks and minerals, which is followed by subsequent leaching and runoff, arsenic (As) is released into the soil and groundwater. Additionally, anthropogenic sources can transfer it into the soil and groundwater. Six West Bengal districts with a combined area of 34000 km2 and a population of 30 million have been determined to have groundwater levels of arsenic over the WHO maximum allowable limit of 0.05 mg l1. (Alam et al.,2002) At present, 37 administrative blocks by the side of the river Ganga and adjoining areas are affected. Areas affected by arsenic contamination in groundwater are all located in the upper delta plain and are mostly in the abandoned meander belt. More than 800 000 people from 312 villages/wards are drinking arsenic-contaminated water and amongst them, at least 175 000 people show arsenical skin lesions. Thousands of tube well water in these six districts have been analysed for arsenic species. Hair, nails, scales, urine, and liver tissue analyses show elevated concentrations of arsenic in people drinking arsenic-contaminated water for a longer period. Arsenic comes from a geological source. Only a few soil strata have high arsenic contents, which are determined to be linked to iron-pyrites according to investigations of bore hole silt. Arsenical skin lesions in various areas cause a variety of societal issues. (Das et al.,1996)

The research setting is an important component of the research methodology. Research setting refers to the detailed information of an area where the study was conducted. The research setting can be seen as the physical, social, and cultural site in which the researcher conducts the study. In qualitative research, the participants are observed in their natural environments with a primary focus on meaning-making. The study area generally consists of a particular geographical area viz. a state, district, block, or gram panchayat area selected according to the benefit of the investigator who possesses adequate knowledge regarding the location, communication facility, the period of study, the availability of resources, etc. of the locality so that he can easily approach every corner of the area for data collection. Additionally, to comprehend people’s knowledge, attitudes, and behaviour more easily, investigators must have a fundamental understanding of their socio-demographic backgrounds. It is the environment within which studies are run that has important consequences for experimental design, the type of data that can be collected and the interpretation of results.

Research methodology is a way of explaining how a researcher intends to carry out their research. It’s a logical, systematic plan to resolve a research problem. A methodology details a researcher’s approach to the research to ensure reliable, valid results that address their aims and objectives. It encompasses what data they’re going to collect and where from, as well as how it’s being collected and analyzed. The deliberation on the methodology has been made to understand the concept, methods and techniques which are utilized to design the study, collection of information, analysis of data and interpretation of the f indings for the revelation of truths and formulation of theories. This chapter deals with the method and procedure used in the study and consists of eight main parts • Locale of research • Pilot study. • Sampling Design. • Empirical measurement of the Independent and Dependent variable • Preparation of interview Schedule.

This chapter deals with the findings of the study along with the discussion based on the analysis. This study tried to represent its findings as per the objectives of the study. At the end of this chapter, interrelation has been made, an explanation has been tried to put out down and an attempt has been done to reveal the cause behind it. The results and their pertaining discussion are presented according to the specific objectives of the study.

7.1. Summary The present research had been carried out to study the social ecology of arsenic contamination in groundwater; factors, perception and impact on life and livelihood of the selected village of West Bengal and in the end the comparison is made. The study had been conducted at village Mitrapur in the Haringhata block of West Bengal. A pilot study was conducted to understand the area, its people, institution, communication and extension system of these states. An exhaustive list of respondents was prepared critically with the help of some villagers. From the list, 70 respondents from the village were selected for the study through a non-random snowball sampling method. The primary data were collected with the help of a structured interview schedule by following the personal interview method. The secondary data were collected from our departmental library, internet, Department of Agriculture, West Bengal, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya etc. for establishing the conceptual framework of the study. Three types of Issues are Covered in this Study • The influence of social, cultural, and/or economic variables on how drinking water poisoned with arsenic affects people’s life, notably their health (for example socio-economic patterns of illness and social), • Social factors influencing people’s response: especially in relation to other priorities, perceptions of arsenic, and social roles and relationships.

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