Cancer risk, chemical toxicity and dose intake due to uranium contents in drinking water in Mansa district; Punjab state, India

The mass concentration of uranium in water samples in the Mansa district, Punjab, India area are reported using laser fluorimetric technique. The study aims to calculate human radiological risk associated with uranium consumption in drinking water by the population in the area. The mass concentration of uranium was found to range from 1.31 to 579 μgl-1. Corresponding activity concentration of uranium ranged from 0.03 to 14.48 Bq l-1. Radiological risk for cancer mortality rates was found to be ranging from 3.48x10-6 to 1.54x10-3 while that of cancer morbidity risk ranged from 5.34x10-6 to 2.36x10-3. The chemical toxicity ranged from 0.10 - 43.66 μg.kg-1.day-1. The committed effective dose lies in range of 2.18 - 962.90 μSv y-1 with the mean value 143.03 μSvy-1. Mass concentration, Cancer mortality and morbidity risk and chemical toxicity have been found above permissible limits recommended by AERB. (author)