Assessment of uranium and radon concentration in drinking water samples collected from Tarn Taran District of Punjab

The uranium (²³⁸U) and radon (²²²Rn) concentrations were assessed in drinking water samples collected from handpumps, tubewells and submersible pumps of various depths from a wide range of locations in Tarn Taran district of Punjab, India. ²³⁸U and ²²²Rn concentration measurements in drinking water are important for determination of inhalation and ingestion doses and their health effects on the population. LED Fluorimetry technique was used for the measurement of uranium content in drinking water samples. Radon measurements were taken by using the appropriate bubbling technique with scintillation based radon monitor (SRM), especially one which is free from humidity as recommended by Radiation Protection Advisory Division (RPAD), Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai. Radon and uranium concentration in these samples shows a wide range of variations at different locations. The ²³⁸U and ²²²Rn concentration values are found in the range of 1.2 ± 0.1 to 49.6 ± 2.8 μgl^-1 and 0.75 ± 0.11 to 6.52 ± 0.62 Bql^-1 respectively. The measured values of radon concentration are below the maximum contaminated level (MCL) of 11 Bql^-1. The uranium concentration values in water samples are below the safe limit of 30 μgl^-1 as recommended by WHO, 2011 and also below the threshold limit of 60 μgl^-1 as recommended by AERB, 2004. All measurements were performed in similar environmental conditions for minimal variations in meteorological parameters. (author)