Manish K. Mishra

Risk Assessment for Natural Uranium in Subsurface Water of Punjab State, India

ABSTRACT Traces of uranium were measured by laser fluorimeter in 235 subsurface water samples collected from four districts of Punjab state in India. The concentration of U in water samples ranged between <2–644 μg/L with a mean value of 73.1 μg/L. The radiological risk was observed to be in the range of 5.55 × 10−6–1.78 × 10−3 with a mean value of 2.03 × 10−4, which is around 22% more than the maximum acceptable level (l.67 × 10−4) as per guidelines of Indias Atomic Energy Regulatory Board. The mean of chemical toxicity risk, expressed as life time average daily dose (LADD) was worked out to be 5.56 μg/kg/day with a range of 0.15–48 μg/kg/day by considering a bodyweight of 51.5 ± 8.5 kg, water ingestion rate of 4.05 L/d, and life expectancy of 63.7 yrs for an adult Indian reference man and compared with the reference dose (4.53 μg/kg/day). The average exposure level of U was comparatively high and the chemical toxicity was expected to be more. The mean of hazard quotient (LADD/ RfD) for all four districts was found to be greater than 1, indicating that groundwater may not be suitable for consumption from a chemical toxicity point of view.

Characterization of groundwater composition in Punjab state with special emphasis on uranium content, speciation and mobility

Abstract Groundwaters (borewell and handpump) were sampled from two districts (Bathinda and Mansa) of Punjab state and analyzed for their major ionic concentrations and uranium isotope compositions in order to assess the possible origins of the waters and water–rock interactions that occurred in the deep aquifer system. The major ionic concentrations of waters were plotted on a Piper diagram and grouped into four dominant hydrochemical facies as (Na+K)-SO4+Cl type (69% – 73%), (Ca+Mg)-SO4+Cl type (6% – 21%), (Ca+Mg)–HCO3 type (4% – 6%) and (Na+K)-HCO3 type (2% – 19%). It was observed that mobility of uranium in groundwater was very much influenced by TDS (total dissolved solids). To investigate the various mechanisms for deriving the elevated uranium concentrations in groundwater, 234U/238U activity ratios (ARs) were calculated using the determined activity levels of 234U and 238U. The mean ARs was found to be near unity (i.e. secular equilibrium) in the study regions confirmed that uranium in groundwaters was mainly resulted from its host/parent rocks through weathering processes. The concentration of HCO3− in ground water showed one order of magnitude higher than the total dissolved SiO2 indicates that carbonate weathering was the dominant process due to major water–rock interaction. The uranium speciation in groundwaters was investigated by an equilibrium model calculation using MEDUSA (make equilibrium diagrams using sophisticated algorithms) under the influence of redox conditions and complexant concentration. At the observed range of pH values, the predominant redox speciation of uranium was observed as hydroxo-carbonato complexes of (UO2)2(CO3)(OH)3− and hydroxyl complexes of UO2(OH)3− which might be caused for increasing the solubility of uranium. Due to very low concentration of phosphate in groundwater, its effects on U(VI)-aqueous speciation was negligible.

Study of variations in lipid profile in different trimesters of pregnancy

Background: This study has been conducted to show a correlation of rise in lipid profile in all three trimesters when compared with nonpregnant controls. Objectives: As previous studies showed that increased lipid profile during pregnancy may lead to serious complications in both mother and fetus. Hence, the aim of our study is to monitor the lipid profile values during all the three trimesters of pregnancy and prevent the complications in both mother and fetus. Materials and Methods: A total 180 pregnant patients were taken with 60 in each trimester. 60 healthy nonpregnant women were taken as control subjects. In both study and control groups, we estimated lipid profile which includes total cholesterol (TC), serum triglycerides (TGs), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL). Results: In comparison between study and control groups, the levels of TC, serum TGs, and HDL were significantly high in all the three trimesters, but the levels of LDL were significantly high in the second and third trimesters only. Conclusion: Deranged lipid metabolism in pregnancy is associated with complications in mother and fetus. Therefore, it is recommended to get lipid profile done as a routine investigation in all the three trimesters of pregnancy to avoid maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality.