Sediment and hydrogeochemical contrasts between low and very high arsenic affected areas west and east of river Bhagirathi, West Bengal, India

Hydrogeochemical and sediment-chemistry studies are ongoing in four blocks in Murshidabad: two east of Bhagirathi (Beldanga (BM), Hariharpara (HK), and two west of Bhagirathi (Nabagram (NB) and Kandi (KN)). The river Bhagirathi flows from N to S, and is a distributary of the river Ganges. A 40 km transect with two control sites (low As groundwater) and 2 high As sites are targeted in this study. The source of As is thought to be geogenic, originating in As-rich lithologies of the headwaters region of the river Ganges, transported by the Ganges as it flows down from the Himalayas forming its floodplain throughout the entire district of Murshidabad.