As and Hg Content in Water and Feed Samples in Haryana State of India

In order to assess the status of mercury and arsenic in water, various animal feeds, milk and animal tissue, a survey was conducted in Haryana state of India. Total 163 water, 191 milk, 402 feeds and fodder, 199 tissue and 113 hair samples were collected from nineteen districts of Haryana. An effort was made to collect the samples randomly in order to get representative samples. To see the effect of industrialization on the status of these metals in feeds and animal products, samples were purposefully collected from various industrial towns also. Mercury content in ground water of industrial cities Faridabad and Gurgaon districts showed higher level than maximum contamination limit set by US-EPA (2 ppb, US EPA, 1997). However arsenic content in most of the water sample collected from Haryana state was found below MCL. Hg and As content in various feeds and fodder from Haryana state were found lower than maximum permissible level, thus safe for animal health point of view. Milk as well as animal tissues were also having normal level, thus safe for human consumption.