Considering the background and the research needs for future, the present study has been planned with five objectives to address different aspects of arsenic pollution to human through food-chain. These objectives are:
• To study the genetics of arsenic tolerance, physiology and transport mechanism in rice.
• To identify microbes which could be used for soil amelioration.
• To characterize the path of arsenic in food-chain along with mitigation options.
• To determine the adverse effect of arsenic on human health through food-chain.
• To organize workshop and training programmes for creating public awareness and building human resource. Objective-wise activities
Once the objectives are framed, various activities under each objective need to be undertaken to reach the final goal of the project. The activities under each objective of this project are as follows: Objective 1: To study the genetics of arsenic tolerance, physiology and transport mechanism in rice.
• Identification of markers for arsenic uptake in rice.
• Identification of genes for arsenic transport mechanism in rice. Objective 2: To identify microbes which could be used for soil amelioration
• Isolation and identification of soil and aquatic microorganism capable of transforming inorganic arsenic to less toxic organic forms.
• Determination of methods for mass production of selected microbes.
• Use of identified microbes for arsenic amelioration in soil/water (Micro-scale study). Objective 3: To characterize the path of arsenic in food-chain along with mitigation options.
• Determination of arsenic levels in 10 fish ponds / wetlands and fish (400 samples) in the arsenic affected/ unaffected zones.
• Assessment of health status of fish exposed to arsenic and their proteomic analysis.
• Survey on arsenic status in feed and drinking water used for ruminants and poultry/duck.
• Effect of arsenic contamination in ruminants and poultry / duck.
• Effect of arsenic contamination in laboratory rodent (Albino rat).
• Therapeutic measures to mitigate the effect.
• Quantification of actual evapotranspiration from crop fields.
• Growing boro rice under deficit irrigation.
• Growing maize under deficit irrigation, as an alternative crop in place of boro rice.
• Mitigation of arsenic contamination in soil through organic amendments (free of arsenic).
• Studies of sorption-desorption and release of arsenic from soil matrix under the influence of competitive oxyanions like SO4 2-, PO4 3- and NO3 1-. Objective 4: To determine the adverse effect of arsenic on human health through food-chain.
• Monitoring arsenic status in diet and drinking water and their effect on human health.
• Follow-up study of health status in humans due to intake of arsenic through diet.
• Follow-up study of health status in humans due to intake of arsenic through diet and formulation of new treatment and diet regime for disease management in arsenic exposed people. Objective 5: To organize workshop and training programme.
• Developing awareness among people about arsenic pollution.
