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Exposure to uranium via ingestion of edible products may lead to serious health hazards when taken in quantities more than recommended limit. Hence, to assess the uranium content in groundwater and concerned health hazards 64 groundwater samples were collected from Hamirpur and Mandi districts of Himachal Pradesh. The samples were collected in pre monsoon season from the handpumps and bowries. The region lies in Lower Himalayan range which is storehouse of various granatic rocks. Presence of uranium deposits in Tileli (Mandi), Rajpura (Una), Lambehra (Hamirpur) makes the area more vulnerable for the study. The groundwater samples were analysed to measure concentration of uranium using LED Fluorimeter developed by Quantalase Private. Limited. The uranium concentration in groundwater samples varied from 0.25 to 17.29 µg L-1, with an average value of 1.97. Uranium concentration in none of the samples surpassed the limit of 30µg L-1 recommended by WHO(2011), 60µg L-1 set by AERB(2004). Health risks were estimated in terms radiological and chemical toxicity for different isotopes of uranium. The calculated average mortality and morbidity risks were lower than the actual prescribed limit. The average Lifetime Average Daily Dose (LADD) was calculated as 0.04 and Hazard Quotient (HQ) below unity. Annual ingestion doses for different age groups were also measured which lies under safe limit. Thus, it is recommended that the groundwater is safe for consumption by public. Using Hair Compartment Model for uranium and mean daily uranium intake of 2.71µg for 60-year exposure period, organ specific doses due to uranium radioisotopes in prime organs/tissues and excretion rates via urine, faeces and hair pathway are estimated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research paper is devoted to measure the activity contents of natural radionuclide, like, radium (226Ra), thorium (232Th) and potassium (40K) in the soil gathered along the Jwalamukhi thrust of Himachal Pradesh, North Western Himalayas, India. NaI(Tl) Scintillator detector was utilized for the estimation of activity content. The activity concentration of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K for some of the soil samples have been observed to be above the global normal mean values. The outcomes acquired for indoor and outdoor effective dosage are well below the normal international and national proposed results. The determined values of external hazard (Hex) for studied locations are less than unity, therefore; samples assembled from these regions are safe from a health hazard point of view and can be utilized as a construction purposes without producing any radio-logical hazard to human beings. The average estimations of radium equivalent activity were found to be within the limits suggested by Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Radon (222Rn) and thoron (220Rn) exhalation rates have also been calculated and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uranium and other heavy metals are found in the natural water and may enter the human body when ingested by drinking water. Uranium being radioactive may provide radiological risks, whereas chemical toxicity of uranium and other heavy metals may pose a serious threat to human life. The current research has been undertaken for trace level analysis of uranium and other heavy metals (Fe, Zn, Cu, As, Co, Ag, Cd and Pb) in drinking water samples collected from different locations and sources of water from Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh, India. Uranium concentration has been assessed using LED fluorimeter, whereas the concentration of other heavy metals has been estimated utilizing inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS). Uranium concentration in water samples have been found to vary from 0.50 to 90.46 µg L−1 with mean value of 6.51 µg L−1. About 96% samples have uranium concentration lower than the suggested safe limits of 30 µg L−1 by (WHO, Guidelines for drinking-water quality, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland, 2017). The cancer mortality and morbidity risks have also been estimated using the uranium concentration in drinking water samples. The annual ingestion dose (AID) susceptible to distinct age groups due to ingestion of these waters has also been computed and is found above the prescribed dose of 100 μSv y−1 (International Commission on Radiological Protection, ICRP, (1999) Protection of the public in situations of prolonged radiation exposure. Ann ICRP 29(1–2). ICRP Publication 82) in the water sample of Behra for adolescents and adult males as well as for pregnant and lactating females. Lifetime average daily dose (LADD), Hazards Quotient (HQ) and Heavy Metals Pollution Index (HPI) due to the presence of heavy metals in drinking water samples have also been calculated. LADD for uranium, As and Fe have been found above the recommended limits in the drinking water samples of some villages. Average HQ of the study area has been observed below 1 indicate that the water is good for drinking purpose. HPI has also been found below the analytical pollution index of 100 indicate that the water of the area is not polluted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Indoor air and soil gas radon measurements are simultaneously performed in Hamirpur district of Himachal Pradesh using RAD7, a solid state alpha detector. The study is performed for the estimation of radon level and annual effective dose for indoor air. Different locations are selected and it is found that the variation of radon concentration in indoor air and soil gas in Hamirpur region ranges from 35Bqm−3 to 956Bqm−3 and 35 to 2280Bqm−3 having mean values 189.43Bqm−3 and 462.56Bqm−3 respectively. From indoor air, the total annual effective dose is calculated and it varies from 0.88mSvy−1 to 24.09mSvy−1 with mean value of 4.77mSvy−1. In general, it is found that the annual effective dose limit was within the recommended reference level (3mSvy−1to 10mSvy−1) of the world organisations. A good correlation between radon concentration in air and soil gas is observed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In the present study, the concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K are measured in building material and soil samples collected from different locations of Una, Himachal Pradesh, India. The collected soil samples and building materials are analysed using NaI(Tl) gamma ray spectrometry. The activity concentration of the naturally occurring radionuclides 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in the soil samples varies from 36.4 to 51.9, 9.3 to 26.1 and 1361.0 to 1732.4Bqkg−1, respectively but in building material it varies from 27.8 to 236.0, BDL to 146.1 and 1059.6 to 1582.9Bqkg−1, respectively. The radium equivalent activity, absorbed dose rate, annual effective dose and hazard index are also calculated for the assessment of radiological risk. The concentration of radionuclides depends upon the rock formation and chemical properties within the earth. The average radium equivalent activity from the soil samples and building material is 177.6 and 201.1Bqkg−1. The concentration of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in the collected samples is higher than the world average concentrations of 35, 30 and 400Bqkg−1, respectively. This study is important to generate a baseline data for radiological mapping of the study area in the future. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A study of natural radionuclides and radon concentration of Hamirpur District of Himachal Pradesh, India is carried out using various methodologies. The activity concentration of the natural radionuclides viz. Ra, Th and K is measured using high-resolution-based HPGe detector. Indoor radon measurements in the dwellings of Hamirpur district is carried out using LR-115 type II cellulose nitrate films in the bare mode. The average activity concentrations of Ra, Th and K are 35.58, 54.95 and 580.58 Bq kg, respectively. The annual average indoor radon value in the study area varies from 173.90 to 198.25 Bq m, which is well within the recommended action level given by International Commission on Radiological Protection. The indoor radon values obtained in the present investigation are higher than the world average of 40 Bq m. Radon concentration in water samples is measured using RAD7, an active radon detector. The annual effective dose for stomach and lung is determined from the measured value of radon concentration in water. To assess the radiation hazard of the natural radioactivity in all samples to the people, the radium equivalent activity, external hazard index, lifetime fatality risk, absorbed dose rate and total annual effective dose is estimated. The results signify that the studied area does not possess any radiation hazards due to the presence of natural radioactivity concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study reveals the distribution of terrestrial radionuclides (226Ra, 232Th and 40K) and heavy metals (Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Pb, Co) from soil samples of Una, Hamirpur and Kangra districts of Himachal Pradesh (India). The 226Ra, 232Th, 40K activity concentration in the studied region has been varied from 8 to 3593 Bq kg−1; 21–370 Bq kg-116; 62–7130 Bq kg−1 respectively. High disequilibrium factor (238U/226Ra) depicts that uranium constantly migrates from clay oxidizing zone and getting precipitated with enrichment towards south. An attempt has been made to correlate the distribution of these radionuclides and heavy metals with geology and rock type formation of Siwalik region. The concentration of Pb, Zn and Co was found higher than Indian average background value. Multiple radiological and pollution indices have been estimated for proper risk analysis in the studied region. The annual effective dose in studied region is lower than the recommended limit of 1.0 mSv a−1. The obtained geo-accumulation index and enrichment factor indicated that the sites located in the Hamirpur and Kangra regions were moderately contaminated with Pb and Co. The Nemerow pollution index and contamination security index suggested that almost 45% sites were slightly to moderately polluted. The non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks for both children and adults were within acceptable limits. • 218 samples from 33 locations in a uranium-mineralized area of Siwaliks were studied for radiological and pollution risk assessment. • Concentrations and distributions of radionuclides and heavy metals were correlated with sediment physico-chemical parameters. • Majority of radiation hazard indices were above the world average value. • Non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks for both children and adults were below EPA threshold limits. • Spatial distributions of radionuclides and heavy metals indicated precipitation towards south of the clay oxidizing zone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]