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The uranium concentration in drinking water samples collected from areas of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh has been measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The sources of water comprise hand pumps and tube wells. The uranium concentration lies in the range of 1.24–45.42 µg l−1 with a mean value of 14.91 µg l−1 in drinking water samples from Punjab and 0.56–10.11 µg l−1 with a mean value of 2.17 µg l−1 in Himachal Pradesh. The measured uranium content in 4 % water samples from Punjab has been found to be higher than the limit of 30 µg l−1 recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and US Environmental Protection Agency. However, the uranium concentration in all the water samples from Himachal Pradesh is well below the recommended limit. The annual effective dose associated with drinking water due to uranium concentration is estimated from its annual intake using dosimetric information based on International Commission on Radiological Protection 72. The resulting value of the annual effective dose from drinking water sources is in the range of 0.33–37.78 µSv, which is well within the limit of 100 µSv recommended by the WHO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The measurement of indoor radon concentrations were performed in the dwellings of the Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, India by using LR-115 type II Solid-State Nuclear Track Detectors in the bare mode. The annual average indoor radon concentrations in the dwellings are found to vary from 114 to 400 Bq m−3 with an average of 194 Bq m−3. In ∼22 % of the dwellings the indoor radon activity concentration values lies in the range of action level (200–300 Bq m−3) and in ∼11 % of the dwellings above the upper limit of action level recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP). The annual effective dose (AED) varies from 2.88 to 10.08 mSv with an average of 4.88 mSv. In most of the villages, the AED lies in the range of action level (3–10 mSv) recommended by the ICRP. The seasonal variation in indoor radon reveals the maximum values in winter and minimum in summer. The winter/summer ratio of indoor radon ranges from 1.15 to 1.62 with an average of 1.31. Analysis of ventilation conditions reveal that the indoor radon concentration values are more in poorly ventilated dwellings compared with the well-ventilated ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study that measures the level of uranium, and observes the trend in variation of uranium content in drinking water in samples collected from some areas of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, India. The samples were analyzed using laser induced fluorimetry techniques, and sources of water comprise hand pumps and tube wells. The study shows that uranium concentration in the water samples from Punjab varies from 1.39±0.16 to 98.25±2.06 parts per billion (ppb) with a mean value of 19.84±0.87 ppb, which exceeds the limit recommended by the World Health Organization, while the uranium concentration in water samples from Himachal Pradish is within the recommended levels.

Abstract: 226Ra, 232Th and 40K analysis has been carried out in soil samples collected from some areas of Himachal Pradesh, India using γ-ray spectrometry. The measured activity in soil ranges from 42.09 to 79.63Bqkg−1, 52.83 to 105.81Bqkg−1 and 95.33 to 160.30Bqkg−1 for 226Ra, 232Th and 40K with the mean values of 57.34, 82.22 and 135.75Bqkg−1, respectively. The measured activity concentration of 226Ra and 232Th in soil samples collected from these areas is higher and for 40K is lower than the world average. The radium equivalent activity in all the soil samples is lower than the safe limit set in the OECD report (370Bqkg−1). The value of the external exposure dose has been determined from the content of these radionuclides in soil. It has been observed that on the average, the outdoor terrestrial gamma air absorbed dose rate is about 83.28nGyh−1. The study yields an annual effective dose in the range of 0.07–0.13mSv. The average value of annual effective dose lies in the global range of outdoor radiation exposure given in United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) [(2000). Effects and risks of ionizing radiations. UN, NY]. The activity concentration of 238U has also been determined using fission track technique and the values range from 3.26 to 7.71mgkg−1 with a mean value of 4.38mgkg−1. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]