Which of the following can be found as pollutants in the drinking wate

Which of the following can be found as pollutants in the drinking water in some parts of India?

  • 1. Arsenic
  • 2. Sorbitol
  • 3. Fluoride
  • 4. Formaldehyde
  • 5. Uranium

Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

1 and 3 only
2, 4 and 5 only
1, 3 and 5 only
1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
This question was previously asked in
UPSC IAS – 2013
Arsenic, Fluoride, and Uranium are well-documented as pollutants found in drinking water sources in various parts of India, often occurring naturally at harmful concentrations.
1. Arsenic: Widespread arsenic contamination of groundwater is a major public health issue in states like West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Assam.
2. Fluoride: Excess fluoride in groundwater is prevalent in many states, leading to fluorosis (dental and skeletal) in affected populations.
3. Uranium: Elevated levels of naturally occurring uranium in groundwater have been detected in multiple states, including Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh, posing radiological and chemical risks.
Sorbitol (2) is a sugar alcohol generally not considered a primary widespread pollutant in this context. Formaldehyde (4) is a chemical that can contaminate water, but it’s less commonly cited as a widespread contaminant across *parts of India* due to natural or broad anthropogenic causes compared to arsenic, fluoride, and uranium, which are often geogenic (naturally occurring in rocks and soil).