Environmental radioactivity surveys in Western Himalayas

Water samples from mountain springs, streams and river systems in the Western Himalaya were collected and analysed in the laboratory for uranium and radon contents. It was observed that Himalayan river system is conspicuous by its high dissolved uranium and radium concentrations. Water samples contained from 0.89 to 63.40 ppb of uranium and from 34 to 364 Bq/1 of radon. The radon emanation in soil was measured by track-etch method, emanometry, and alpha-logger techniques. Daily and long-term variation of radon was monitored in some U-mineralised zones of Himachal Pradesh and Uttranchal States with high uranium content in soil. There is a need to undertake epidemiological study correlating cancer risk with high uranium and radon values in the environment. (author)