Table 1 - uploaded by Brindha Karthikeyan
Content may be subject to copyright.
Source publication
Groundwater used for domestic purpose without proper treatment should be free from chemical and biological contaminants. This study was carried out to assess the groundwater quality with respect to uranium in a part of Nalgonda district, Andhra Pradesh, India. Groundwater was regularly monitored for uranium concentration by collection of samples on...
Context in source publication
Context 1
... The concentration of uranium in groundwater greatly depends on the composition of the rocks in the aquifer. The concentration of uranium in granitic rocks has been studied widely by several researchers (Table 1) which is up to 35.4 ppm [26][27][28][29][30]. The granitic rocks which occur in most of the study area contain uranium in the range of 10.2-116 ppm with an average of 35 ppm and thorium between 25.5 and 60.7 ppm with an average of 50 ppm [13]. ...
Similar publications
The groundwater of several regions in Xinjiang, China, including the Kuitun and the Manas River Basins in the Junggar Basin, is heavily polluted with arsenic. However, the arsenic content of the groundwater of the Karamay area located within the Junggar Basin is relatively low and below the recommended drinking water limit. In our study, we analyze...
Citations
... Along with the good correlation with Al, the measured contents of U (average 4.5 ± 2.0 mg kg − 1 , median 4.5 mg kg − 1 ) are slightly higher than the global reference of the upper continental crust (2.7 mg kg − 1 , Rudnick and Gao, 2014), and also higher than the composition of the Earth's crust (2.0 mg kg − 1 , Emsley, 2011). However, they are similar to the Clarke value (3-4 mg kg − 1 ; Cuney, 2009), and similar to U contents in granite reported around the world (an average of about 5 mg kg − 1 ; Brindha and Elango, 2013). Moreover, the Geochemical Atlas of Spain (Locutura et al., 2012) has reported U contents in the area above 8 mg kg − 1 in soils (fraction <2 mm), floodplain sediments (<0.063 mm) and stream sediments (<0.150 mm). ...
... Major anthropogenic sources of U, Th, and REE include wastes and effluents from medical facilities, mines, industrial mineral processing plants, nuclear power plants, the electronics industry, oil refineries, fertilizer and feed mills, etc. (e.g., Harmsen and Haan, 1980;Brindha and Elango, 2013;Keesari et al., 2014;Coyte et al., 2018;Gwenzi al, 2018;CGWB, 2020;etc.). Although the concentrations of U, Th, and REEs in natural waters are relatively low, about 3.3, 0.006, and 0.004-0.024 ...
... However, uranium concentrations in surface and groundwater exceeding 6 μg L −1 have been reported in several countries (notably China, India, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Korea, Nigeria, and Tanzania), with concentrations in the waters of many countries exceeding the ATSDR (2009) permissible limit of 30 μg L −1 (Aleissa et al., 2004;Ahmed et al., 2014;Flanagan et al., 2014;Wu et al., 2014;Cordeiro et al., 2016;Shin et al., 2016;Pant et al., 2017;Kaishwa et al., 2018;Bergmann and Graca, 2020;CGWB, 2020). In India, for example, U concentrations in groundwater vary from 0.6 μg L −1 -1443 μg L −1 and often exceed the above limit of 30 μg L −1 , especially in areas of uranium mineralization that have a natural anomaly of U (Babu et al., 2008;Brindha and Elango, 2013;Keesari et al., 2014;Raghavendra et al., 2014;Thivya et al., 2014;Saini and Bajwa, 2016;Pant et al., 2017;Rishi et al., 2017;Sharma et al., 2017;Coyte et al., 2018;CGWB, 2020;Sahu et al., 2020;Tanwer, et al., 2022) or near industries such as cement factories, fertilizer plants, chemical factories, and coal-fired thermal power plants (Saini and Bajwa, 2016;CGWB, 2020). ...
Uranium, thorium, and rare earth elements (REEs) are important strategic elements in today’s world with a range of applications in high and green technology and power generation. The expected increase in demand for U, Th, and REEs in the coming decades also raises a number of questions about their supply risks and potential environmental impacts. This review provides an overview of the current literature on the distribution of these elements in different environmental compartments. For example, the processes of extraction, use, and disposal of U-, Th-, and REE-containing materials have been reported to result in elevated concentrations of these elements in air, in some places even exceeding permissible limits. In natural waters, the above processes resulted in concentrations as high as 69.2, 2.5, and 24.8 mg L ⁻¹ for U, Th, and REE, respectively, while in soils and sediments they sometimes reach 542, 75, and 56.5 g kg ⁻¹ , respectively. While plants generally only take up small amounts of U, Th, and REE, some are known to be hyperaccumulators, containing up to 3.5 and 13.0 g kg ⁻¹ of U and REE, respectively. It appears that further research is needed to fully comprehend the fate and toxicological effects of U, Th, and REEs. Moreover, more emphasis should be placed on developing alternative methods and technologies for recovery of these elements from industrial and mining wastes.
... In India, 16 states have been detected with uranium in its groundwater. Uranium in groundwater is prevalent in states of Andhra Pradesh (Babu et al., 2008), Karnataka (Brindha and Elango, 2013), Gujarat, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, and Rajasthan (Coyte et al., 2018). All the states except north-west (NW) India have Pre-Cambrian rocks which are naturally considered to be a source of uranium (Thivya et al., 2016;CGWB, 2014). ...
... Recharge and discharge considerably affects the uranium concentration in groundwater (Brindha and Elango, 2013). Water recharge from rainfall increases the water level thus also increases the uranium concentration in groundwater. ...
Occurrence of uranium (U) in the groundwater of south-west Punjab is a matter of great concern due to the rise of contaminant levels at an alarming rate, its spatial and vertical variability and poor understanding of uranium mobility with depth. Present study has been conducted to investigate the vertical extent of contamination and geochemical factors controlling U mobilization in the groundwater of semi-arid Punjab. Out of total 140 samples collected and analyzed, 76% samples have uranium levels greater than the chemical toxicity limit of World Health Organization (WHO, 30 μg.L⁻¹) and 34% samples have concentration higher than the radiological toxicity limit given by Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB, 60 μg.L⁻¹). Water at shallow depth (<60 m) is found to be more contaminated than water at deeper depth (>60 m) and concentration lies in the range of 4.26–318.03 μg.L⁻¹. Spatial distribution graphs are used to identify the hotspots of contamination and concentration is higher in the flow direction of groundwater towards southwest. In both the aquifers, groundwater is alkaline and oxic in character with carbonate weathering as dominant hydrogeochemical process affecting chemical composition of water. Higher uranium concentration is seen in the oxidizing, alkaline and carbonate-rich water. Alkali earth metals (Na⁺ & K⁺) are also strongly correlated with the uranium in groundwater at both the levels. Use of environmental stable isotopes (δ¹⁸O & δ²H) shows the evaporation signature in both the aquifers. Health risk assessment is carried out and values higher than permissible limit give indication towards the health risk to the population exposed due to the consumption of uranium contaminated water from long time. This study provides a strong base for better understanding the source of uranium in the aquifer system of region and the results would be useful for further studies in quaternary alluvial aquifers of semi-arid regions.
... In addition to the geological properties of felsic rocks, factors such as the composition of water, its electric conductivity, redox conditions and residence time of groundwater have a significant influence on the increase or decrease the level of radioactivity in ground waters [4][5][6]. Many studies have shown that the ground waters draining through felsic rocks may have radionuclide levels which may exceed recognized drinking water norms [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16]. ...
... The contribution of radionuclides originating from drinking water to the annual average exposure dose (2.4 mSv y −1 ; [20]) due to natural radiation sources is relatively small. However, the radioactivity level of water in regions having high natural radionuclide content can be important for public health [ [14,15,21] and references therein, [22] and references therein, [23] and references therein]. For 2 L/day consumption, reference dose levels for pre-screening procedure in terms of gross-α and -β radioactivity concentrations are determined by WHO as 0.5 Bq/L for α emitters and 1.0 Bq/L for β emitters [24]. ...
... Figures 3 and 4 indicate that the distribution of U and K-values shows heterogeneity due to extreme values. The extreme values (like samples 4,11,15,20) were mostly found in and around fault and alteration zones. As can be seen in Fig. 1, high U values are compatible with sample locations close to fault zones. ...
... In India, 16 states have been detected with uranium in its groundwater. Uranium in groundwater is prevalent in states of Andhra Pradesh (Babu et al., 2008), Karnataka (Brindha and Elango, 2013), Gujarat, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, and Rajasthan (Coyte et al., 2018). All the states except north-west (NW) India have Pre-Cambrian rocks which are naturally considered to be a source of uranium (Thivya et al., 2016;CGWB, 2014). ...
... Recharge and discharge considerably affects the uranium concentration in groundwater (Brindha and Elango, 2013). Water recharge from rainfall increases the water level thus also increases the uranium concentration in groundwater. ...
Natural radionuclide levels are studied along the soil profile of alluvial sediments. Eighteen soil profiles have been selected from agricultural soil and undisturbed (uncultivated) areas and gamma-ray spectrophotometer has been used for the analysis. Vertical distribution of radionuclide was evaluated up to the depth of 900cm and levels were found to significantly vary with depth. Higher radionuclide levels are observed in the agricultural sites than the undisturbed land area till the depth interval of 600cm and values are comparable at both the sites after this depth, indicating the role of anthropogenic activities on radionuclide enrichment in agricultural areas. However, the value is higher than the global average at all sites, indicating the geogenic presence of radionuclides. Elemental ratio and multi-statistical analysis are utilized to assess the behaviour of radionuclides involved. Radiological hazard risk assesment is carried out and levels exceed the permissible limit which is a matter of concern for public health.
... In addition to the geological properties of felsic rocks, factors such as the composition of water, its electric conductivity, redox conditions and residence time of groundwater have a significant influence on the increase or decrease the level of radioactivity in ground waters [4][5][6]. Many studies have shown that the ground waters draining through felsic rocks may have radionuclide levels which may exceed recognized drinking water norms [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16]. ...
... The contribution of radionuclides originating from drinking water to the annual average exposure dose (2.4 mSv y −1 ; [20]) due to natural radiation sources is relatively small. However, the radioactivity level of water in regions having high natural radionuclide content can be important for public health [ [14,15,21] and references therein, [22] and references therein, [23] and references therein]. For 2 L/day consumption, reference dose levels for pre-screening procedure in terms of gross-α and -β radioactivity concentrations are determined by WHO as 0.5 Bq/L for α emitters and 1.0 Bq/L for β emitters [24]. ...
... Figures 3 and 4 indicate that the distribution of U and K-values shows heterogeneity due to extreme values. The extreme values (like samples 4,11,15,20) were mostly found in and around fault and alteration zones. As can be seen in Fig. 1, high U values are compatible with sample locations close to fault zones. ...
Variation of natural radioactivity level in the ground waters in the Arıklı uranium mineralization area, were investigated together with gross-α, gross-β, U, Th, K, EC and pH values. The U, Th and K values, which are mainly controlled by the geological features, varied over a wide range from 0.29 to 31.29 µg/L, 0.01-0.27 μg/L and from 0.44 to 37.29 mg/L, respectively. Although the U values of some water samples are higher than the WHO safe limits (15 ppb), all values of the gross-α and -β activity values and annual effective dose rates are lower than the drinking water safety limits of WHO (0.5 Bq/L, 1.0 Bq/L and 0.1 mSv/y, respectively).
... This difference may be related to varying amounts of organic matter in humid versus arid settings, as organic matter is well known to reduce and scavenge uranium (Hobday and Galloway, 1999;Grenthe et al., 2006). In humid environments, where groundwater salinity is usually low, high concentrations of geogenic uranium in groundwater are associated with uranium-rich aquifer rocks (Duff and Amrhein, 1996;Prat et al., 2009;Dong et al., 2005;Dong and Brooks, 2006;Jurgens et al., 2010;Brindha and Elango, 2013;Yang et al., 2014;Baik et al., 2015;Thivya et al., 2016;Coyte et al., 2018;Cho and Choo, 2019;Coyte and Vengosh, 2020;Gross and Brown, 2020). This has been particularly noted in the literature for groundwater from granitic aquifers, or aquifers close to granitic intrusions, which have been shown to produce groundwater with uranium concentrations higher than 1000 μg/L (Prat et al., 2009;Cho and Choo, 2019;Gross and Brown, 2020). ...
... As described by Villalobos et al. (2001), carbonate competes with sorption sites for the uranyl ion, and forms stable complexes, especially with calcium (Villalobos et al., 2001). Studies in such settings often report uranium as being well correlated with HCO 3 − (Baik et al., 2015;Brindha and Elango, 2013;Cho and Choo, 2019;Coyte et al., 2018;Coyte and Vengosh, 2020;Dong et al., 2005;Dong and Brooks, 2006;Duff and Amrhein, 1996;Gross and Brown, 2020;Jurgens et al., 2010;Katsoyiannis et al., 2006;Prat et al., 2009;Thivya et al., 2016;Yang et al., 2014;Coyte et al., 2019) indicating the importance of complexation for controlling aqueous uranium concentrations. In the United States, decadal scale increases in uranium concentrations in the semi-arid to arid western part of the country were directly tied to changes in groundwater bicarbonate concentrations (Burow et al., 2017). ...
This critical review presents the key factors that control the occurrence of natural elements from the uranium- and thorium decay series, also known as naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM), including uranium, radium, radon, lead, polonium, and their isotopes in groundwater resources. Given their toxicity and radiation, elevated levels of these nuclides in drinking water pose human health risks, and therefore understanding the occurrence, sources, and factors that control the mobilization of these nuclides from aquifer rocks is critical for better groundwater management and human health protection. The concentrations of these nuclides in groundwater are a function of the groundwater residence time relative to the decay rates of the nuclides, as well as the net balance between nuclide mobilization (dissolution, desorption, recoil) and retention (adsorption, precipitation). This paper explores the factors that control this balance, including the relationships between nuclide chemistry (e.g., solubility and speciation), lithological and hydrogeological factors, groundwater geochemistry (e.g., redox state, pH, ionic strength, ion-pairs availability), and their combined effects and interactions. The various chemical properties of each of the nuclides results in different likelihoods for co-occurrence. For example, the primordial ²³⁸U, ²²²Rn, and, in cases of high colloid concentrations also ²¹⁰Po, are all more likely to be found in oxic groundwater. In contrast, in reducing aquifers, Ra nuclides, ²¹⁰Pb, and in absence of high colloid concentrations, ²¹⁰Po, are more mobile and frequently occur in groundwater. In highly permeable sandstone aquifers that lack sufficient adsorption sites, Ra is often enriched, even in low salinity and oxic groundwater. This paper also highlights the isotope distributions, including those of relatively long-lived nuclides (²³⁸U/²³⁵U) with abundances that depend on geochemical conditions (e.g., fractionation induced from redox processes), as well as shorter-lived nuclides (²³⁴U/²³⁸U, ²²⁸Ra/²²⁶Ra, ²²⁴Ra/²²⁸Ra, ²¹⁰Pb/²²²Rn, ²¹⁰Po/²¹⁰Pb) that are strongly influenced by decay-related (recoil), lithological, and geochemical factors. Special attention is paid in evaluating the ability to use these isotope variations to elucidate the sources of these nuclides in groundwater, mechanisms of their mobilization from the rock matrix (e.g., recoil, ion-exchange), and retention into secondary mineral phases and ion-exchange sites.
... Since then, a nationwide survey of groundwater uranium and radon concentrations has been ongoing over 5500 wells in Korea [3][4][5][6][7], with detailed surveys focusing on cities and counties with high proportions of granite distribution [8][9][10]. Many studies have shown that groundwater uranium and radon levels are closely related to bedrock geology, and that their concentrations are highest in granite and granitic gneiss [11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18]. ...
Uranium and radon concentrations in groundwater from the Goesan area of the Ogcheon Metamorphic Belt (OMB), central Korea, whose bedrock is known to contain the highest uranium levels in Korea, were analyzed from 200 wells. We also measured the uranium concentrations in the bedrock near the investigated wells to infer a relationship between the bedrock geology and the groundwater. The five geologic bedrock units in the Goesan area consist of Cretaceous granite (Kgr), Jurassic granite (Jgr) and three types of metasedimentary rocks (og1, og2, and og3). The percentages of the groundwater samples over 30 μg/L (maximum contaminant level, MCL of US EPA) were 2.0% of the 200 groundwater samples; 12% of Kgr and 1.8% of Jgr exceeded the MCL, respectively. Overall, 16.5% of the 200 groundwater samples exceeded 148 Bq/L (alternative maximum contaminant level, AMCL of US EPA); 60.0% of Kgr and 25.0% of Jgr exceeded the AMCL, but only 0% of og1, 7.9% of og2, and 2.6% of og3 exceeded the value, respectively. No direct correlation was found between uranium concentration and radon concentration in water samples. Radon has a slightly linear correlation with Na (0.31), Mg (−0.30), and F (0.36). However, uranium behavior in groundwater was independent of other components. Based on thermodynamic calculation, uranium chemical speciation was dominated by carbonate complexes, namely the Ca2UO2(CO3)3(aq) and CaUO2(CO3)32− species. Although uraniferous mineral phases designated as saturation indices were greatly undersaturated, uranium hydroxides such as schoepite, UO2(OH)2 and U(OH)3 became possible phases. Uranium-containing bedrock in OMB did not significantly affect radioactive levels in the groundwater, possibly due to adsorption effects related to organic matter and geochemical reduction. Nevertheless, oxidation prevention of uranium-containing bedrock needs to be systematically managed for monitoring the possible migration of uranium into groundwater.
... While India's Atomic Energy Regulatory Board has set a radiologically based limit of 60 μg/L for uranium in drinking water (AERB 2004), at present U is not included in India's national drinking water standards drawn up by the Bureau of India Standards. Groundwater sources with elevated U concentrations have been reported across India, both within the sedimentary systems of the Indo-Gangetic basin as well as within the basement complex which dominates central and southern India (Brindha and Elango, 2013;Coyte et al., 2018;CGWB 2020). ...
... High (exceeding WHO guideline value of 30 mg/L) U groundwater concentrations have been reported in the basement complex of Southern India (e.g. Brindha and Elango, 2013). A small number of studies have previously reported elevated U within groundwaters in the Peninsular granitic gneiss complex of Karnataka. ...
... The groundwater U concentrations found in this study are comparable with other recent studies within the granitic gneiss complex in Peninsular India (e.g. Babu et al., 2008, Brindha and Elango, 2013, Mathews et al., 2015, Manoj et al., 2017, Kouser et al., 2019. ...
Groundwater resources in the crystalline basement complex of India are crucial for supplying drinking water in both rural and urban settings. Groundwater depletion is recognised as a challenge across parts of India due to over-abstraction, but groundwater quality constraints are perhaps even more widespread and often overlooked at the local scale. Uranium contamination in basement aquifers has been reported in many parts of India, locally exceeding WHO drinking water guideline values of 30 μg/L and posing a potential health risk. In this study 130 water samples were collected across three crystalline basement catchments to assess hydrochemical, geological and anthropogenic controls on uranium mobility and occurrence in drinking water sources. Groundwaters with uranium concentrations exceeding 30 μg/L were found in all three study catchments (30% of samples overall), with concentrations up to 589 μg/L detected. There appears to be a geological control on the occurrence of uranium in groundwater with the granitic gneiss of the Halli and Bengaluru study areas having higher mean uranium concentrations (51 and 68 μg/L respectively) compared to the sheared gneiss of the Berambadi catchment (6.4 μg/L). Uranium – nitrate relationships indicate that fertiliser sources are not a major control on uranium occurrence in these case studies which including two catchments with a long legacy of intense agricultural land use. Geochemical modelling confirmed uranium speciation was dominated by uranyl carbonate species, particularly ternary complexes with calcium, consistent with uranium mobility being affected by redox controls and the presence of carbonates. Urban leakage in Bengaluru led to low pH and low bicarbonate groundwater hydrochemistry, reducing uranium mobility and altering uranium speciation. Since the majority of inhabitants in Karnataka depend on groundwater abstraction from basement aquifers for drinking water and domestic use, exposure to elevated uranium is a public health concern. Improved monitoring, understanding and treatment of high uranium drinking water sources in this region is essential to safeguard public health.
... U concentration in water may vary from 0.05 μgL − 1 to 1.0 mgL − 1 which is associated with secondary uranium deposits such as autunite, gummite and torbernite . Moreover, U derived from the irrigation activities due to the use of phosphatic fertilisers may also add to the U content in groundwater (Brindha and Elango, 2013. Brindha et al. (2011) have reported the natural radioactivity in phosphatic and nitrogenous fertilisers. ...
Uranium (U) in groundwater is hazardous to human health, especially if it is present in drinking water. The semiarid regions of southern India chiefly depend on groundwater for drinking purposes. In this regard, a comprehensive sampling strategy was adopted to collect groundwater representing different lithologies of the region. The samples were collected in two different seasons and analysed for major and minor ions along with total U in the groundwater. Two samples during pre monsoon (PRM) and seven samples during post monsoon (POM) had U > 30 μgL − 1 , which is above the World Health Organization's provisional guideline value. The high concentration of U (188 μgL − 1) was observed in the alluvial formation though a few samples showed the release of U near the pink granite (39 μgL − 1) and the concentration was low in the lateritic formation (10 μgL − 1). The uranyl carbonato complexes UO 2 (CO 3) 2 2− and UO 2 (CO 3) 3 4− were associated with high pH which facilitated the transport of U into groundwater especially during POM. U 3 O 8 is the major form observed in groundwater compared to either UO 2 or UO 3 in the both seasons. The uranium oxides were observed to be more prevalent at the neutral pH. Though U concentration increases with pH, it is mainly governed by the redox conditions. The principal component analysis (PCA) analysis also suggested redox conditions in groundwater to be the major process facilitating the U release mechanism regardless of the season. The POM season has an additional source of U in groundwater due to the application of nitrogenous fertilizers in the alluvium region. Furthermore, redox mobilization factor was predominantly observed near the coastal region and in the agricultural regions. The process of infiltration of the fertilizer-induced U was enhanced by the agricultural runoff into the surface water bodies in the region. Health risk assessment was also carried out by determining annual effective dose rate, cancer mortality risk, lifetime average daily dose and hazard quotient to assess the portability of groundwater in the study area. Artificial recharge technique and reducing the usage of chemical based fertilizers for irrigation are suggested as sustainable plans to safeguard the vulnerable water resource in this region.
