Distribution of naturally occurring uranium and other heavy toxic elements in selected spring water samples of Pithoraga
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Distribution of naturally occurring uranium and other heavy toxic elements in selected spring water samples of Pithoragarh District, Uttarakhand, India Kiran Patni1,2 · Chitra Pande1 · Ashutosh Pratap Pande3 · Geeta Tewari1 · Tanuj Joshi4 Received: 12 August 2020 / Accepted: 23 November 2020 © Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
Abstract The main purpose of this study was to investigate the seasonal variation of the uranium (U) concentration level in natural drinking water. Laser fluorimetry technique has been used for the microanalysis of uranium concentration in water samples collected from different natural sources like springs and subterranean springs of various depths. A total of 23 drinking water samples were collected based on their consumption for drinking purposes from the different areas of Pithoragarh district. Seventeen physico- chemical parameters, six heavy metals and uranium were estimated in the samples. The results showed that the average value of TDS was observed 204.65 mg/L during pre- monsoon season and 213.82 mg/L during post- monsoon season, the uranium concentration in drinking water samples varied from 0.10–9.90 µg L−1 in premonsoon and 0.10–8.32 µg L −1 in post-monsoon seasons. The study revealed that none of the samples had exceeded the guideline values prescribed for concentration of uranium in drinking water by World Health Organization (30 µg L−1) and sources can be considered safe with respect to the level of uranium concentration. Keywords Uranium concentration · Laser fluorimetry · Natural drinking water · Heavy metals
1 Introduction Water is a vital component for the survival of life and is a universal solvent that can dissolve many organic and inorganic compounds [1]. The availability of clean and safe drinking water is a basic right of humans, but in the present scenario clean and safe drinking water is in scarcity. Water is an important element for life and has multiple uses especially for drinking purposes. Therefore, clean and safe drinking water is a vital commodity required for humans. Springwater is a common source of public supply in various rural communities [2]. In hills, spring water is frequently used for drinking purposes, therefore, the quality of spring water assumes the highest priority.
Human beings are exposed to natural radioactivity since the inception of the earth which is due to the presence of naturally occurring radionuclides in the surroundings. Exposure to radiation due to natural sources is a continuous and inescapable feature of life on earth [3]. Uranium is one of the radionuclides which is omnipresent and is widely available in the earth’s crust. These radionuclides get introduced into the human body through food, water, and air. Uranium is present in rocks and soil and when water passes through and over these formations, it dissolves many compounds and minerals including uranium [4]. Most of the natural water sources contain a detectable concentration of uranium in the soluble or particulate form [5]. Uranium is radiologically toxic as well as
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