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Human body exposure to various toxic and non-toxic heavy metals in groundwater is a significant health concern, especially in developing countries. The present study was planned and carried out to appraise the potential health risks of eight heavy metals (Mn, Co, Cu, As, Se, Cd, Hg, and Pb) in different water sources of the Mansa and Muktsar districts of Punjab. The measurements of heavy metals were performed using the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS) technique. The health (carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic) risks and doses (ingestion and dermal) associated with exposure to heavy metals in water were estimated from the measured concentrations using USEPA guidelines. The average concentrations of heavy metals were observed in the order of Mn (13.93) > Cu (13.12) > Se (4.14) > As (3.28) > Hg (3.27) > Pb (1.29) > Co (0.20) > Cd (0.10) μg L−1. The results show that the Hg, Pb, As, and Se concentrations are above the guideline values of the World Health Organization (WHO) in 10.34%, 3.45%, 6.90%, and 6.90% locations, respectively. The high values of these heavy metals may be due to geogenic anthropogenic activities. The hazard quotients (non-carcinogenic risk) for ingestion and dermal exposures were observed in the range of 0.32–3.79 and 8.05 × 10−6–1.34 × 10−4, respectively. On the other hand, the carcinogenic health risks due to ingestion and dermal exposure were observed to be 0.02–0.38 and 6.67 × 10−8–1.15 × 10−6, respectively. The results of this study will be helpful to the drinking water supplying agencies, water resource development authorities, etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radon, thoron, and their progeny concentrations, seasonal variation in the indoor environment have been measured for dose assessment to the residents for first time using a single-entry pinhole dosimeters and deposition-based radon/thoron progeny sensors. A total of 100 dosimeters were deployed in 25 villages. These values are found to be higher in winter than rainy and summer season which may be due to inadequate ventilation conditions. The average annual effective inhalation dose has been found to be 0.90 mSvy−1, which is below the recommended level of International Commission on Radiological Protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The measurements of radon/thoron exhalation rates from soil are useful to know high risk potential area from the view point of health effects. The exhalation rates have been estimated in 50 soil samples taken from Barnala and Moga districts of Punjab, India using scintillation based detector, Smart RnDuo. Soil samples have been collected using grid pattern of 6 × 6 km2 for uniform mapping of the area. The radon mass exhalation rates have been found to vary from 4.56 ± 0.53 to 41.13 ± 1.21 mBqkg−1 h−1 with an average value of 24.8 ± 1 mBqkg−1 h−1 which are lower than the worldwide average value of 57 mBqkg−1 h−1. The thoron surface exhalation rates lie in the range from 1.50 ± 0.63 to 23.77 ± 1.52 kBqm−2 h−1 with mean value of 15.62 ± 1.24 kBqm−2 h−1 which are higher than worldwide average value of 3.60 kBqm−2 h−1 as reported by UNSCEAR 2000. These exhalation rates are indicative of less radon levels in this study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various research studies have shown that exposure to radon gas is a cause of concern for health effects to the public. The present work has been carried out for the radiological risk assessment to the public due to the presence of radon isotopes in drinking water of Barnala district of Punjab, India, for the first time using scintillation-based radiation detector. A total of 100 samples were collected from different sources of water (canal and underground water) from 25 villages on grid pattern of 6 × 6 km2 in the study area for uniform mapping. In situ measurements were carried out to find out Rn-222 concentration in water samples. The measured values have been found to vary from 0.17 ± 0.01 to 9.84 ± 0.59 BqL−1 with an average value of 3.37 ± 0.29 BqL−1, which is well below the recommended limit of 100 BqL−1(WHO 2004). The annual effective dose due to ingestion and inhalation of radon has also been calculated for various age groups like infants, children and adults to understand the age-wise dose distribution. The calculated values suggest that there is no significant health risk to the general public from radon in water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to record natural radionuclide content in branded food samples representative of a typical North Indian diet. Forty samples of various food items falling into three categories namely, cereal grains, pulses and beverages were collected from the local markets of Punjab. The radiometric analysis was performed using NaI(Tl) scintillator detector. The activity concentrations ranged between 10 ± 1 and 20 ± 5 Bq kg−1 for 226Ra, Below Detectable Limit (BDL) and 10 ± 2 Bq kg−1 for 232Th and 440 ± 56 and 562 ± 70 Bq kg−1 for 40K. The radium equivalent (Raeq) varied from 55 Bq kg−1(corn) to 70 Bq kg−1 (tea) with an average of 62 Bq kg−1. Internal hazard index (HI) was also calculated (0.18–0.24), which was well below the prescribed threshold of one (24). Age-specific annual effective doses were estimated for infants, children and adults. Children were the most sensitive group of population to radionuclide doses from cereal grains. The annual effective doses were further used to calculate the lifetime cancer risk which exceeded the world average of 2.9 |$\times$| 10−4 (24). However, the overall results showed that the intake of these dietary products by the general public did not pose any serious health risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, an attempt has been made to measure the radionuclide contents in soil samples from the region around coal-based thermal power plant (TPP) in Tarn Taran district of Punjab state in India and to assess the impact of coal-based TPP on the radionuclide distribution in surrounding areas. For this purpose, soil samples collected from the region, coal samples, and fly-ash samples collected from the plant were analyzed using the gamma spectrometry technique employing thallium-activated sodium iodide detector. The activity concentration of radionuclides was observed to be higher for the samples collected from the locations nearer to the power plant and decreased as the distance from power plant increased indicating an increase in soil radioactivity due to TPP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present investigation, the ingestion and inhalation dosage for the particular body organs in light of the intake of radon through ground water utilised by the occupants have been assessed in the different villages of the Upper Bari Doab region of Amritsar province, India using an electrostatic collection type radon monitor (RAD7) analyzer with RAD-H2O accessory. The mean radon activity level in water was seen to be 8.34 ± 2.99 Bql−1. The newborn children have higher radiation dosage than the other age groups because of their high dosage transformation factors. However, the radiation dosage received by all different age groups significantly less than the UNSCEAR and WHO suggested a level of 100 μSv y−1. The annual effective dosage for the diverse body organs because of the intake of radon was moreover ascertained and found the maximum dosage for lungs than other organs. The radiation dosage received by bronchial epithelium by the means of inhalation was likewise high when contrasted with that by stomach walls through ingestion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carrying out of indoor radon studies have been done in the 50 dwellings of Bathinda district (Punjab), India using LR-115 type II cellulose nitrate films in the bare mode. The films were exposed into four consecutive trimesters, i.e. from March 2010 to February 2011. The work has been undertaken for health risk assessment. The calibration constant of 1 track cm-2 day-1 equal to 50 Bqm-3 (Becquerel/m³) was used. In the present study average radon values vary from 83.15 (BTD-7) to 124.35 (BTD-8) Bqm-3 in different villages, which are higher than the word average value of 40 Bqm-3. The inhabitants of the area of study receive average annual radiation dose varying from 1.41 (BTD-7) - 2.12 (BTD-8) mSv (millisievert). The effective dose is found to be less than lower limit of the recommended action level (3-10 mSv). The value of radon for the first floor portion of the same dwelling is lower in comparison to the ground floor. The values in the cemented floors are lower than in the dwellings with the un-cemented floors. The indoor radon values are more in very poorly ventilated dwellings in comparison to the very well-ventilated dwellings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study was conducted to assess the concentration of uranium and dissolved radon in drinking water samples collected from Jalandhar district of Punjab, India. The samples were analysed for dissolved radon using scintillation cell method. Laser fluorimetry was used for measurement of uranium concentration. Correlation analysis of radon and uranium concentrations and salinity and total dissolved solids with uranium was carried out. The uranium concentration in water samples varied from a minimum value of 1.53 ± 0.06 mg m−3 to 50.2 ± 0.08 mg m−3 with a geometric mean value of 14.85 mg m−3. The radon concentration in water varied from a minimum value of 0.34 ± 0.07 kBq m−3 to a maximum value of 3.84 ± 0.48 kBq m−3 with a geometric mean value of 1.46 kBq m−3. Ingestion dose to local population, due to radon and uranium in drinking water, for different age categories, was computed and results are being reported in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]