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Uranium in groundwater
50 above villages found to have higher uranium presence ground water in Eastern Karnataka region. The concentration level of uranium is at 78% making it difficult to be used for drinking and household purposes.
Uranium is a naturally occurring radioactive element present in certain types of rocks and soil like granite in a very low concentrations. Whenever we use it for nuclear power or any other purpose, it is purified and enriched.
But higher concentration of uranium leads to pollution and also affect the living creatures. The higher concentration of uranium presence in groundwater leads to Nephritis (kidney damage), impact on bones and lungs, cancer to liver over a long period of exposure to such polluted ground water. Even many immediate effect can also be seen like fever, vomiting, headache, etc.
Although Bureau of Indian Standard has not prescribed any limit for uranium presence in drinking water. But, WHO has set drinking water standards for presence of uranium as 30 microgram/Liter.
In India, Atomic Energy Regulator Board has set a radiologically based limit for Uranium as 60 microgram/Liter.
In a recent study conducted by IISc, Divecha centre for climate change and Centre for Advanced Research in Environmental Radioactivity, Mangalore University, it was found that 57 out of 73 villages surveyed had higher concentration of uranium in groundwater.
Researchers have found that this high concentration may be due to natural causes or indirect human activities. They even concluded that the uranium concentration was not due to nuclear power plant because the surveyed villages were not near to nuclear plants or its facilities.
The anticipated reasons for such high concentration
1. Decline in groundwater level
2. Geological design of Karnataka region
Looking at the geological map of Karnataka it can be said that the region has higher presence of potassium, Uranium and thorium. Due to declining groundwater, the concentration of uranium seems to be higher.
Even Government of India under the ministry of Jal Shakti mentioned that few pockets in India are having such high concentration of uranium presence in groundwater like northern states, parts of telengana and Karnataka.
What could be possible solutions to this. We will mention in upcoming posts. Do share your views on this topic.
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