Analysis of uranium concentration in lakes at Mysore city, India

The radioactive element Uranium-238 enters the human body through ingestion of water and diet components since alpha emitters are the most dangerous, studies of water for human consumption are very important. The study area is Mysore, Karnataka State, India. Uranium-238 was measured in water samples collected from lakes in and around Mysore using Laser Flourimeter. The measurements are based on fluorescence of Uranyl salts by adding a fluorescence agent called fluran (tetra sodium pyrophosphate). The Uranium concentration varies from 1.7 to 55 μg/L with a median of 2.5 μg/L. Annual effective dose vary from 0.695 to 22.5 μSv/y with a median of 1.02 μSv/y. (author)