Under BIS standard IS:10500:2012 (revised), the permissible limit of arsenic in drinking water in India is:
- A 0.05 mg/L (acceptable limit) and no permissible relaxation
- B 0.01 mg/L (acceptable limit) and 0.05 mg/L (permissible in the absence of alternative) ✓
- C 0.001 mg/L (acceptable limit) and 0.01 mg/L (permissible)
- D 0.1 mg/L in all settings
Correct answer: B. 0.01 mg/L (acceptable limit) and 0.05 mg/L (permissible in the absence of alternative)
Explanation
IS:10500:2012 sets arsenic at 0.01 mg/L as the acceptable limit. Where no alternative source is available, the permissible limit is 0.05 mg/L — matching the older WHO guideline of 0.05 mg/L. The current WHO guideline for arsenic is 0.01 mg/L, and India has adopted this as the acceptable limit. Chronic arsenic exposure causes arsenicosis, Mees' lines, rain-drop pigmentation, and arsenical keratosis.
Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.