International Journal of Research in Engineering and Applied Sciences (IJREAS) Available online at http://euroasiapub.org/journals.php Vol. 6 Issue 7, July 2016, pp. 45~56 ISSN(O): 2249-3905, ISSN(P) : 2349-6525 | Impact Factor: 6.573 | Thomson Reuters ID: L-5236-2015 International Journal of Research in Engineering & Applied Sciences Email:- editorijrim@gmail.com, http://www.euroasiapub.org 45 Studies on Arsenic Pollution and Microalgal diversity of Drinking Water Habitats in Murshidabad, West Bengal, for Arsenic Removal A. Mohamed Halith * S. Elumalai ** Article history: Abstract Received July 10 th , 2016; Approved July 20 th , 2016; Available online: Aug 2 st , 2016. Arsenic is most toxic and carcinogenic chemical element and it is regarded by WHO as first priority pollutant. Arsenic is of concern in water treatment because of its health effects to the Human beings. This study was undertaken to understand the severity of the arsenic crisis in Murshidabad, one of the nine arsenic-affected districts in West Bengal, India. Five hand tube well water samples, one drinking water sample, one soil sample and four river water samples were collected from Murshidabad and analyzed for arsenic concentration by FI-HG-AAS method. Physio-Chemical parameters of the water samples were analyzed by YSI-field portable water analyzing kit. Microalgal samples were also collected from the water sampling sites and photographed using the OLYMPUS CH20i microscope with attached SONY digital still camera (DSC-W320) for morphological identification. Chlorococcum sp., Chlorella Vulgaris Beyerinck, Oscillatoria acuminata Gom, Chroococcus sp., Scendesmus acutus Meyen and Oscillatoria sp., were found to be most dominant species in the collection sites. Arsenic concentration analyzed in water samples Behrampur was having highest arsenic concentration 0.011 mg/l. Lowest arsenic concentration in analyzed water samples (<0.005) was found at Islampur, Balighat, Lalbag, Herampur-1, Herampur-2 and Howrah. Arsenic concentration analyzed in soil sample was found to be 0.79 mg/kg. Keywords: Arsenic, Microalgae, Water, Physio-Chemical parameters. 2395-7492© Copyright 2016 The Author. Published by International Journal of Engineering and Applied Science. This is an open access article under the All rights reserved. *Ph.D. Research Scholar, Department of Plant Biology and Plant Biotechnology, Presidency College (Autonomous), Chennai-05. **Professor and Head, Department of Biotechnology, University of Madras, Chennai-25