Published June 2024 | Version v1
Journal article

Distribution of uranium and selected toxic heavy metals in drinking water of Garhwal Himalaya, India

  • 1. HNB Garhwal University, BadshahiThaul Campus, Tehri Garhwal (India). Department of Physics
  • 2. P.N.G. Govt. PG College, Ramnagar, Nainital (India). Department of Physics
  • 3. Chitkara University, Solan, Himachal Pradesh (India). Chitkara University School of Engineering and Technology
  • 4. Dr B R Ambedkar National Institute of Technology, Jalandhar (India). Department of Physics
  • 5. National Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, Chiba (Japan)

Description

This paper reports the concentrations of uranium and heavy metals in drinking water samples from Garhwal Himalaya, India determined using LED Fluorimeter and Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS), respectively. The radiological (carcinogenic) and chemical (non-carcinogenic) risks associated with the consumption of uranium in water were estimated for the public. The concentrations of natural uranium in the analyzed drinking water samples vary from 0 to 21.57 ppb with a mean value of 1.54 ppb. The average concentrations of heavy metals in the analyzed drinking water samples were found to be in the order of iron (3.99 ppm) > zinc (0.32 ppm) > copper (0.04 ppm) > nickel (0.01 ppm) > chromium and lead (Below Detection Level). The estimated risk quantities were found to be lower than World Health Organization (WHO) and United State Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) guideline values. (author)

Additional details

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry
Journal Volume
333
Journal Issue
6
Journal Page Range
p. 2927-2935
ISSN
0236-5731
CODEN
JRNCDM

Optional Information

Notes
44 refs.