Study of the distribution of 226Ra in ground water near the uranium industry of Jharkhand (India)

Ground water is the principal source of drinking water in the rural areas of India. With the aim of determining, the contribution of 226Ra to natural background radiation through drinking water exposure pathway near an operating uranium mining industry at Jaduguda, Jharkhand state of eastern India, the 226Ra activity concentrations were measured in potable ground water. The water analysed, both tube well and well water, was collected in areas near the uranium industry and away. The 226Ra concentration was measured by emano-metric technique. The 226Ra level in ground water was ranging between minimum detection limit of 3.5 mBq l-1 and a maximum of 208 mBq l-1. The analysis of variance reveals that there is insignificant statistical variation in the median 226Ra concentration up to a distance of > 10 km from the mining complex. Variation in concentration of 226Ra in sources is attributed to the local geochemistry and environmental factors. The 226Ra concentration was significantly elevated in natural artesian wells in the vicinity of uranium mineralised hill and it varies from 53.4 to 754 mBq l-1. The WHO [Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality. Third Edition, Vol. 1, Recommendation (2004)] guideline value of 1000 mBq l-1 has not been exceeded in any of the sources investigated. (authors)