Cancer toxin found in groundwater near Nashik Kumbh Mela site: How chromium affects human health

Drinking water (Representational image)Near Nashik’s Ambad industrial area, laboratory testing has raised a serious health concern. A sample of groundwater reportedly contained 50.3 milligrams per litre of hexavalent chromium, nearly 1,000 times the 0.05 mg/L drinking-water limit cited under Indian standards. The discovery comes as Nashik prepares for the Simhastha Kumbh Mela, when large numbers of pilgrims are expected to visit the region.