Occurrence, correlation and health implications of uranium and other PTEs in Himalayan springs

The availability of clean and safe drinking water is a significant concern in developing countries, crucial for improving public health, reducing waterborne diseases and supporting sustainable development. It is also a key focus of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The presence of uranium and other potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in drinking water is a global health issue, particularly because groundwater is a primary source of drinking water in rural and urban India, as well as in many other regions worldwide. In this study, drinking water samples collected from natural springs in the Yamuna Valley of the Garhwal Himalaya were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The uranium concentrations in the water samples were found to be below safe limits. The paper also presents the distribution, correlation, and health implications of the analyzed toxic elements. (author)