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Mapping composite vulnerability to groundwater arsenic contamination: an analytical framework and a case study in India

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  • Sushant Singh
  • Neeraj Vedwan

Abstract

Groundwater arsenic (As) contamination affects millions of people in South Asia. In this paper, we propose a composite vulnerability framework to identify, for mitigation, the population who are at the highest risk of suffering adverse impacts from exposure to As and warrant mitigation measures. Bihar, India, which was selected for the case study, has large areas with As concentrations far exceeding the upper limits of acceptable level of As in drinking water. Drawing on the existing social science research, we identify a host of socioeconomic and demographic variables, in addition to As concentration in groundwater, which compound a community’s vulnerability to the adverse effects of As. The result is a “composite vulnerability index,” which consists of biophysical, socioeconomic, and demographic factors that collectively determine a community’s overall vulnerability to As. Additionally, using geographic information systems (GIS), we represent the composite vulnerability index visually through a set of maps, which highlight the interaction between different community characteristics to generate unique community vulnerability profiles. In summary, this paper outlines a systematic approach to understanding vulnerability to groundwater As, as both social and natural construct, which can be applied to different geographic areas, and to improving decision making and planning pertaining to diverse environmental problems. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2015

Suggested Citation

  • Sushant Singh & Neeraj Vedwan, 2015. "Mapping composite vulnerability to groundwater arsenic contamination: an analytical framework and a case study in India," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 75(2), pages 1883-1908, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:nathaz:v:75:y:2015:i:2:p:1883-1908
    DOI: 10.1007/s11069-014-1402-2
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. M. Papathoma-Köhle & M. Kappes & M. Keiler & T. Glade, 2011. "Physical vulnerability assessment for alpine hazards: state of the art and future needs," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 58(2), pages 645-680, August.
    2. J. Birkmann & O. Cardona & M. Carreño & A. Barbat & M. Pelling & S. Schneiderbauer & S. Kienberger & M. Keiler & D. Alexander & P. Zeil & T. Welle, 2013. "Framing vulnerability, risk and societal responses: the MOVE framework," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 67(2), pages 193-211, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Dipankar Chakraborti & Sushant K. Singh & Mohammad Mahmudur Rahman & Rathindra Nath Dutta & Subhas Chandra Mukherjee & Shyamapada Pati & Probir Bijoy Kar, 2018. "Groundwater Arsenic Contamination in the Ganga River Basin: A Future Health Danger," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-19, January.
    2. Sushant K. Singh, 2017. "Conceptual framework of a cloud-based decision support system for arsenic health risk assessment," Environment Systems and Decisions, Springer, vol. 37(4), pages 435-450, December.
    3. Md Golam Azam & Md Mujibor Rahman, 2022. "Assessing spatial vulnerability of Bangladesh to climate change and extremes: a geographic information system approach," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 27(6), pages 1-35, August.

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