Soma Giri

Natural radionuclides in fish species from surface water of Bagjata and Banduhurang uranium mining areas, East Singhbhum, Jharkhand, India.

Purpose: To study the natural radionuclides in the freshwater fish samples around the uranium mining areas of Bagjata and Banduhurang, East Singhbhum, Jharkhand, India Materials and methods: The naturally occurring radioisotopes of uranium, U(nat), consisting of 234U, 235U and 238U; 226Ra, 230Th and 210Po were analysed in the fish samples from the surface water of Bagjata and Banduhurang mining areas after acid digestion. The ingestion dose, concentration factor and excess lifetime cancer risk of the radionuclides were estimated. Results: The geometric mean activity of U(nat), 226Ra, 230Th and 210Po in the fish samples was found to be 0.05, 0.19, 0.29 and 0.95 Bq kg−1fresh (Becquerel per kilogram fresh fish), respectively, in the Bagjata mining area, while for Banduhurang mining area it was estimated to be 0.08, 0.41, 0.22 and 2.48 Bq kg−1fresh, respectively. The ingestion dose was computed to be 1.88 and 4.16 μSvY−1, respectively, for both the areas which is much below the 1 mSv limit set in the new International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) recommendations. The estimation of the Concentration Factors (CF) reveal that the CF from water is greater than 1 l/kg−1in most of the cases while from sediment CF is less than 1. The excess individual lifetime cancer risk due to the consumption of fish was calculated to be 2.53 × 10−5 and 6.48 × 10−5, respectively, for Bagjata and Banduhurang areas, which is within the acceptable excess individual lifetime cancer risk value of 1 × 10−4. Conclusion: The study confirms that current levels of radioactivity do not pose a significant radiological risk to freshwater fish consumers.

Estimation of annual effective dose due to ingestion of natural radionuclides in foodstuffs and water at a proposed uranium mining site in India.

Abstract Purpose: To study the distribution of 210Po, 226Ra, 230Th and U(nat) (naturally occurring radioisotopes of uranium [234U, 235U and 238U]) in food and water around the Bagjata uranium mining area in India. Materials and methods: Radionuclides were analyzed in food samples of plant and animal origin after acid digestion. Intake and ingestion dose of the radionuclides were estimated. Results: 210Po, 226Ra, 230Th and U(nat) in all the dietary components ranged widely from < 0.2–36, < 0.02–1.58, < 0.01–2.8 and < 0.017–0.39 Bqkg-1, respectively. The range of 226Ra and U(nat) in water was < 3.5–206 and < 12.6–693 mBql−1, respectively. The intake of radionuclides considering food and water was calculated to be 760 BqY−1 while the ingestion dose was 601 μSvY−1. The estimated doses reflect the natural background dose via route of ingestion, which is below the 1 mSvY−1 limit set by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP). However, the doses are more than the dose constraint of 300 μSvY−1 as suggested by the ICRP for members of the public for planned disposal of long-lived radioactive waste. Conclusion: The study confirms that current levels of radionuclides do not pose significant radiological risk to the local inhabitants, but they need close investigation in the near future.

Dose estimates for the local inhabitants from 210Po ingestion via dietary sources at a proposed uranium mining site in India

Abstract Purpose: To study the distribution of 210Po activity in food in Bagjata in East Singhbhum, India. Materials and methods: 210Po were analyzed in the food samples of plant origin such as cereals, pulses, fruits, vegetables and food of animal origin such fish, chicken, egg, etc., in and around Bagjata uranium mining area as a part of baseline study after acid digestion. The intake and ingestion dose of the radionuclide was estimated. Results: The general range of 210Po activity in all the dietary components ranged widely from <0.2–36 Bqkg-1fresh. In the food of plant origin, the minimum activity of 210Po was estimated in vegetables while maximum in pulses. In food of animal origin, the observed minimum activity of 210Po was in eggs and the maximum observed was in chicken samples. The intake of 210Po considering all dietary components was found to be 464 Bq.Y-1 while the ingestion dose was calculated to be 557 μSv.Y-1, respectively. The estimated doses are reflecting the natural background dose via the route of ingestion, which is much below the 1 mSv limit set in the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) recommendations. Conclusion: The study confirms that current levels of 210Po do not pose a significant radiological risk to the local inhabitants.

Heavy metals in eggs and chicken and the associated human health risk assessment in the mining areas of Singhbhum copper belt, India

ABSTRACT Metal contamination was studied in locally rearing chicken and eggs in the environs of mining areas of Singhbhum copper belt. Concentrations of metals were below Indian standards except for Cu, Ni and Zn in the case of chicken at some locations. Estimated daily intake (EDI) and target hazard quotient (THQ) suggested that the metals did not pose risk individually. However, considering the geometric mean of the metals, hazard index (HI) was above unity. Cu, Pb and Co were the key components contributing to a potential noncarcinogenic risk. The HI varied from 0.62 to 1.66 among the locations indicating a considerable heath risk to the consumers of locally reared chicken and eggs around the mining areas. Higher HIs were found at the locations in close vicinity to copper mining and processing units compared to other locations.

Fluvial geochemistry of Subarnarekha River basin, India

The fluvial geochemistry of the Subarnarekha River and its major tributaries has been studied on a seasonal basis in order to assess the geochemical processes that explain the water composition and estimate solute fluxes. The analytical results show the mildly acidic to alkaline nature of the Subarnarekha River water and the dominance of

Risk assessment due to intake of heavy metals through the ingestion of groundwater around two proposed uranium mining areas in Jharkhand, India

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Human health risk and ecological risk assessment of metals in fishes, shrimps and sediment from a tropical river

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