Contaminated industrial sites in India pose public health risk

Inadequate environmental regulations and assessments of contaminated industrial land in India are endangering human populations and wildlife ecosystems, a new research study has warned.

The study, led by the University of Bristol, calls for the introduction of a more effective and joined-up policy framework, including stricter monitoring, to help manage polluted sites and make them safer.

Contaminated sites are locations where hazardous substances accumulate in soil, groundwater, or sediments, often due to industrial activities, waste disposal, or mining. These pollutants include heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, and mercury, fossil fuels such as oil and coal, and other chemicals, for example, agro-industrial products like pesticides, fertilizers, plastics, and dyes. These substances can linger in the environment for decades and over time they can enter and build up in food systems and drinking water sources.

“Contaminated sites are often invisible environmental problems. Pollutants may accumulate slowly in soil and groundwater, but the effects can last for generations if not properly managed. Current regulations are fragmented across sectors, so they’re not fit for purpose”, said Lead author, environmental scientist Dr Jagannath Biswakarma from the University of Bristol.

The team of international researchers claim there is a huge mismatch between the amount of hazardous industrial waste produced and the number of formally registered contaminated sites.

“India generates 15.66 million metric tons of hazardous waste annually according to recent figures, yet there are less than 200 officially contaminated or likely contaminated sites in total. By contrast, Switzerland—which is 80 times smaller than India in total land area with less industries—has nearly 39 times more contaminated sites. The scale of this gap is alarming and suggests many potentially polluted areas may still be unidentified”, said Dr Biswakarma.

The researchers propose coordinated monitoring and robust remediation or containment processes, but warn this will necessitate institutional reforms and stronger environmental data systems at a national level, according to an official statement.

Co-author Dr Kavitha Sambasivam, Assistant Professor of CO2 Research and Green Technologies Center at the Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) in Vellore, India, explained: “Many sites are located in densely populated areas, and that contamination often remains hidden while persisting for decades. Contaminated site management often falls across various regulatory areas, including soil protection, groundwater management, hazardous waste regulation, and public health.”

Without coordination between these systems, the researchers claim that pollution risks can remain poorly understood and inadequately tackled. The study recommends adopting an integrated strategy by implementing a Contaminated Site Monitoring, Assessment, and Remediation (CS-MAR) framework. The framework combines environmental monitoring, centralized data systems, risk prioritization, and community engagement to improve governance of contaminated sites.

The framework draws lessons from international policy models such as the United States’ Superfund program, Switzerland’s contaminated site regulations, the UK’s Defra 2012 Statutory Guidance, and Australia’s national environmental protection measures.

Key elements of the proposed framework include: Comprehensive identification and mapping of contaminated sites; Centralized environmental data systems for pollution monitoring; Risk-based prioritization of remediation efforts; Stronger coordination between regulatory agencies; Increased public engagement and community monitoring; Capacity-building initiatives to strengthen technical expertise.

The study also highlights the potential of emerging technologies, environmental monitoring tools, and public-private partnerships to support more effective remediation strategies.

However, the researchers emphasize that transferring proven international models to other regions is not straightforward.

“Environmental governance systems differ widely between countries. Our study outlines possible pathways for integration, but real progress will depend on institutional coordination, political commitment, and investment in environmental monitoring:, said study co-author Professor Asif Qureshi, from the Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IITH) in Telangana.

The study, therefore, calls for stronger integration between scientific research, environmental monitoring, and policy decision-making. It argues that developing national site inventories, improving transparency of environmental data, and strengthening technical capacity would be important first steps.