Radiological And Chemotoxic Risk Assessments Caused By Uranium In Groundwater In Chandrapur District, Maharashtra, India

Abstract

The current study on groundwater contamination examines the chemical and radiological dangers associated with uranium contamination in groundwater. For the same 232 groundwater samples were analysed from 15 talukas in the Chandrapur district. The study also estimated pre-monsoon lifetime excess cancer risks (ECR) for mortality and morbidity in adults aged 70 years. The ECR was calculated using mathematical equations. The estimated ECR of death and disease for post- monsoon was between 4.19 E-045 and 1.002E-05 for mortality and between 1.010E-06 and 8.92E-05 for morbidity. All except one pre-monsoon sample satisfied ECR mortality and morbidity of AERB standards. The LADD and hazard quotient were also studied. The post-monsoon LADD concentration averaged 0.31592377 µg/kg/day and pre-monsoon average was 0.4386 µg/kg/day. Post-monsoons, chemical concentrations above the WHO criteria reduced from 9.48% to 8.62%. Post-monsoon adult HQ ranged from 0.001 to 7.71 µg/kg/day and pre-monsoon HQ levels averaged 0.511 µg/kg/day. Due to increased HQ levels, 11.2% of pre-monsoon samples were chemotoxic in nature.