Asha Rani

Analysis of uranium in drinking water samples using laser induced fluorimetry.

Uranium concentration in drinking water samples collected from some areas of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh has been measured using a laser induced fluorimetry technique. The sources of water comprise hand pumps and tube wells. Uranium concentration in the water samples from Punjab varies from 1.39 ± 0.16 to 98.25 ± 2.06 ppb with a mean value of 19.84 ± 0.87 ppb. The uranium concentration in most of the drinking water samples from Punjab exceeds the safe limit recommended by the World Health Organization. However, the uranium concentration in water samples from Himachal Pradesh is well within the recommended levels. The annual effective dose equivalent associated with drinking water due to uranium concentration is estimated from its annual intake using dosimetric information based on ICRP Report 72. The resulting value of the annual effective dose from drinking water sources is in the range of 0.13 to 81.59 &mgr;Sv. The annual effective dose received by the population due to the consumption of drinking water from these areas is well within the recommended limit. In order to check the accuracy of the technique a few water samples were also analyzed using a fission track registration technique. A good agreement has been observed between the uranium values determined by these techniques.

Analysis of uranium and its correlation with some physico-chemical properties of drinking water samples from Amritsar, Punjab

Fission track technique has been used for uranium estimation in drinking water samples collected from some areas of Amritsar District, Punjab, India. The uranium concentration in water samples is found to vary from 3.19 to 45.59 microg l(-1). Some of the physico-chemical properties such as pH, conductance and hardness and the content of calcium, magnesium, total dissolved solids (TDS), sodium, potassium, chloride, nitrate and heavy metals viz. zinc, cadmium, lead and copper have been determined in water samples. An attempt has been made to correlate uranium concentration with these water quality parameters. A positive correlation of conductance, nitrate, chloride, sodium, potassium, magnesium, TDS, calcium and hardness with uranium concentration has been observed. However, no correlation has been observed between the concentration of uranium and the heavy metals analysed.

Uranium estimation in drinking water samples from some areas of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, India using ICP-MS

The uranium concentration in drinking water samples collected from areas of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh has been measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The sources of water comprise hand pumps and tube wells. The uranium concentration lies in the range of 1.24-45.42 µg l(-1) with a mean value of 14.91 µg l(-1) in drinking water samples from Punjab and 0.56-10.11 µg l(-1) with a mean value of 2.17 µg l(-1) in Himachal Pradesh. The measured uranium content in 4 % water samples from Punjab has been found to be higher than the limit of 30 µg l(-1) recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and US Environmental Protection Agency. However, the uranium concentration in all the water samples from Himachal Pradesh is well below the recommended limit. The annual effective dose associated with drinking water due to uranium concentration is estimated from its annual intake using dosimetric information based on International Commission on Radiological Protection 72. The resulting value of the annual effective dose from drinking water sources is in the range of 0.33-37.78 µSv, which is well within the limit of 100 µSv recommended by the WHO.

Indoor radon measurements in the dwellings of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, India

The measurement of indoor radon concentrations were performed in the dwellings of the Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, India by using LR-115 type II Solid-State Nuclear Track Detectors in the bare mode. The annual average indoor radon concentrations in the dwellings are found to vary from 114 to 400 Bq m(-3) with an average of 194 Bq m(-3). In ∼22 % of the dwellings the indoor radon activity concentration values lies in the range of action level (200-300 Bq m(-3)) and in ∼11 % of the dwellings above the upper limit of action level recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP). The annual effective dose (AED) varies from 2.88 to 10.08 mSv with an average of 4.88 mSv. In most of the villages, the AED lies in the range of action level (3-10 mSv) recommended by the ICRP. The seasonal variation in indoor radon reveals the maximum values in winter and minimum in summer. The winter/summer ratio of indoor radon ranges from 1.15 to 1.62 with an average of 1.31. Analysis of ventilation conditions reveal that the indoor radon concentration values are more in poorly ventilated dwellings compared with the well-ventilated ones.

Risk assessment of metals from groundwater in northeast Rajasthan

The present study was conducted to investigate trace metal (Li, Be, B, Al, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As Se, Mo, Cd, Sb, Ba and Pb) concentrations of drinking water samples in northeast Rajasthan, India. Furthermore, the study aimed to ascertain carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risks of metals by ingestion and dermal absorption pathways to the local residents. Metal concentrations were analyzed by using high resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and compared with permissible limits set by the Bureau of Indian Standards, United States Environmental Protection Agency and World Health Organization. The results indicate that the concentrations of Be, B, Al, Cr, Fe, Cu, Zn, As, Mo, Sb and Ba were lower than their respective permissible limits, whereas the concentrations of Mn, Ni, Se, Cd and Pb in some samples were higher than their permissible limits.The total hazard index (summing the hazard index through ingestion and dermal routes) at all the sampling sites exceeded or nearing unity, indicating the presence of non-carcinogenic health effects from ingestion of water and dermal contact with water. The results indicate that the total excess lifetime cancer risk (considering both ingestion and dermal exposure pathways) of metals exposure was in accordance to the acceptable lifetime risks for carcinogens in drinking water (10-6–10-4). Both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks were mainly attributed to the ingestion pathways.

Carcinogenic and Non-carcinogenic Risk Assessment of Metals in Groundwater via Ingestion and Dermal Absorption Pathways for Children and Adults in Malwa Region of Punjab

The concentration of trace metals was measured in groundwater samples collected from Malwa region of Punjab, India. The samples were analyzed by using high resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HR-ICP-MS). The results were compared with permissible limits prescribed by various health and environmental protection agencies. The concentrations of trace metals such as Mn, Se, Mo, Cd, Sb and Pb were higher than their respective permissible limits at some sampling sites. The total hazard index (HItotal) (summing the hazard index through ingestion and dermal routes) at all the sampling sites exceeded or nearing unity, indicating the presence of non-carcinogenic health effects from ingestion of groundwater and dermal contact with groundwater. The results reveal that the total excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCRtotal) of metals exposure was in accordance with the acceptable lifetime risks for carcinogens in drinking water.

Estimation of natural radionuclides in the soil samples and its radiological impact on human health

ABSTRACT In the present study, soil samples collected from 40 different locations of Jodhpur, Nagaur, Bikaner and Jhunjhunu districts of northern Rajasthan, India has been analyzed for 226Ra, 232Th and 40K using gamma ray spectroscopy. The measured activity concentration ranges from 14u2009±u20098 to 37u2009±u20099u2008Bqu2008kg−1, 42u2009±u200910 to 84u2009±u200911u2008Bqu2008kg−1.and 304u2009±u2009125 to 734u2009±u2009141u2008Bqu2008kg−1 with the mean value of 24u2009±u200910u2008Bqu2008kg−1, 55u2009±u200911u2008Bqu2008kg−1 and 549u2009±u2009145u2008Bqu2008kg−1 for 226Ra, 232Th and 40K, respectively. The radium equivalent activity (Raeq) of all the soil samples ranges from 119 to 209u2008Bqu2008kg−1 with an average value of 146u2008Bqu2008kg−1, which is lower than the safe limit 370u2008Bqu2008kg−1 set by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. The total absorbed dose and annual effective dose of all the investigated samples has also been explored in the present manuscript. The corresponding values of external and internal hazard index of all the soil samples ranges from 0.31 to 0.58 and 0.35 to 0.68 with the average value of 0.39 and 0.46, respectively. It was observed that the soil of Jodhpur, Nagaur, Bikaner and Jhunjhunu districts is suitable for construction purpose without posing any health hazard.

Assessment of uranium in correlation with physico-chemical properties of drinking water of Northern Rajasthan

In the present study, analysis of 238U concentration in 40 drinking water samples collected from different locations of Jodhpur, Nagaur, Bikaner and Jhunjhunu districts of Rajasthan, India has been carried out by using high resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (HR-ICP-MS) technique. The water samples were taken from hand pumps and tube wells having depths ranging from 50 to 800 feet. The measured uranium concentration lies in the range from 0.89 to 166.89 μg l-1 with the mean value of 31.72 μg l-1. The measured uranium content in twelve water samples was found to be higher than the safe limit of 30 μg l-1 as recommended by World Health Organization (WHO, 2011) and US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA, 2011). Radiological risk calculated in the form of annual effective dose estimated from annual uranium intake ranges from 0.66 to 138.63 μSv y-1 with the mean value of 26.28 μSv y-1. The annual effective dose in two drinking water samples was found to be greater than WHO (2004) recommended level of 100 μSv y-1. Chemical risk calculated in the form of lifetime average daily dose (LAAD) estimated from the water samples varies from 0.02 to 4.57 μg kg-1 d-1 with the mean value of 0.87 μg kg-1 d-1. The lifetime average daily dose (LAAD) of ten drinking water samples was found to be greater than WHO (2011) recommended level of 1 μg kg-1 d-1. The corresponding values of hazard quotient of 48% water samples were found to be greater than unity.A good positive correlation of uranium concentration with total dissolved solids (TDS) and conductance has been observed. However no correlation of uranium concentration with pH was observed. The results revels that uranium concentration in drinking water samples of the study area can cause radiological and chemical threat to the inhabitants.

Variation of annual effective dose due to radon level in indoor air in Marwar region of Rajasthan, India

In the present work, indoor radon and thoron measurements have been carried out from different locations of Jodhpur and Nagaur districts of Northern Rajasthan, India using RAD7, a solid state alpha detector. The radon and thoron concentration in indoor air varies from 8.75 to 61.25 Bq m−3 and 32.7 to 147.2 Bq m−3 with the mean value of 32 and 73 Bq m−3 respectively. The observed indoor radon concentration values are well below the action level recommended by International Commission on Radiological Protection (200-300 Bq m−3) and Environmental Protection Agency (148 Bq m−3). The survey reveals that the thoron concentration values in the indoor air are well within the International Commission on Radiological Protection (2005). The calculated total annual effective dose due to radon level in indoor air varies from 0.22 to 1.54 mSv y−1 with the mean value of 0.81 mSv y−1 which is less than even the lower limit of action level 3-10 mSv y−1 recommended by International Commission on Radiological Protection (2005).