Influence of physico-chemical parameters on the distribution of uranium in the ground water of Bangalore, India

Nagaiah, N.; Mathews, Gladys; Balakrishna, Karthik Kumar Mysore; Rajanna, Ambika Madalakote; Karunakara, N.

doi:10.4103/0972-0464.142389

Cited by 20 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…Groundwater in Bengaluru had a mean concentration of 68.4 μg/L, however, the median concentration was 6.8 μg/L showing the influence of a few high outlier values (Table 1). These distributions are comparable with results from previous groundwater studies in Bengaluru by Nagaiah et al (2013) and Mathews et al (2015) which reported maximum concentrations of 770 and 2027 μg/L, and median concentrations of 20.6 and 92.4 μg/L respectively. Uranium concentrations were found to vary greatly within short distances (Fig.…”

Section: Uranium In Drinking Water and Implications For Health And Exposuresupporting

confidence: 90%

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Elevated uranium in drinking water sources in basement aquifers of southern India

Lapworth

Brauns

Chattopadhyay

et al. 2021

Applied Geochemistry

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Groundwater resources in the crystalline basement complex of India are crucial for supplying drinking water in both rural and urban settings. Groundwater depletion is recognised as a challenge across parts of India due to over-abstraction, but groundwater quality constraints are perhaps even more widespread and often overlooked at the local scale. Uranium contamination in basement aquifers has been reported in many parts of India, locally exceeding WHO drinking water guideline values of 30 μg/L and posing a potential health risk. In this study 130 water samples were collected across three crystalline basement catchments to assess hydrochemical, geological and anthropogenic controls on uranium mobility and occurrence in drinking water sources. Groundwaters with uranium concentrations exceeding 30 μg/L were found in all three study catchments (30% of samples overall), with concentrations up to 589 μg/L detected. There appears to be a geological control on the occurrence of uranium in groundwater with the granitic gneiss of the Halli and Bengaluru study areas having higher mean uranium concentrations (51 and 68 μg/L respectively) compared to the sheared gneiss of the Berambadi catchment (6.4 μg/L). Uraniumnitrate relationships indicate that fertiliser sources are not a major control on uranium occurrence in these case studies which include two catchments with a long legacy of intense agricultural land use. Geochemical modelling confirmed uranium speciation was dominated by uranyl carbonate species, particularly ternary complexes with calcium, consistent with uranium mobility being affected by redox controls and the presence of carbonates. Urban leakage in Bengaluru led to low pH and low bicarbonate groundwater hydrochemistry, reducing uranium mobility and altering uranium speciation. Since the majority of inhabitants in Karnataka depend on groundwater abstraction from basement aquifers for drinking water and domestic use, exposure to elevated uranium is a public health concern. Improved monitoring, understanding and treatment of high uranium drinking water sources in this region is essential to safeguard public health.

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Section: Uranium In Drinking Water and Implications For Health And Exposuresupporting

confidence: 90%

“…Uranium concentrations were found to vary greatly within short distances (Fig. 6a), this corroborates similar trends reported in Nagaiah et al (2013), including the high U groundwater associated with the Bengaluru granite outcrop (Fig. 6a).…”

Section: Uranium In Drinking Water and Implications For Health And Exposuresupporting

confidence: 88%

Elevated uranium in drinking water sources in basement aquifers of southern India

Lapworth

Brauns

Chattopadhyay

et al. 2021

Applied Geochemistry

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“…The minimum uranium concentrations in the Bangalore Urban district were 0.94 (PRM) and 1.38 µg/L (POM), whereas the maximum concentrations were 98.79 (PRM) and 96.52 µg/L (POM) (Table 1). It could also be observed from the study that the uranium concentrations varied within shorter distances from the populations; this was in line with the similar tendencies that were mentioned by Nagaiah et al [41]. This made it so that the distributions of the naturally occurring uranium in the groundwaters reflected the local environments [42].…”

Section: Estimation Of Uranium With Different Water-quality Parameterssupporting

confidence: 89%

Estimation of Natural Uranium and Its Risk-Assessment in Groundwater of Bangalore Urban District of Karnataka, India

Naik,

Alurdoddi Rajashekara,

Mudbidre

2024

GaEE

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In this study, 56 groundwater samples were taken from diverse sources in Bangalore Urban district during the pre-monsoon and post-monsoon seasons to measure the uranium concentration and its correlation with different waterquality parameters. The uranium concentration varied from 0.94–98.79 µg/L during the pre-monsoon season and from 1.38–96.52 µg/L during the postmonsoon season. Except for a few readings, all were within the safe limit of 60 µg/L as prescribed by India’s Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), Department of Atomic Energy (DAE). Owing to its slightly higher concentration, a study on the radiological and chemical risks that are caused due to the ingestion of uranium was assessed. Based on the radiological aspect, cancer mortality and its risks were assessed, wherein all of the samples were well within the acceptable limit of 10−4; therefore, consuming these water samples was radiologically safe. However, when the risk that was caused by chemical toxicity was assessed, a few samples exceeded the hazard quotient (HQ) value of more than 1, thus illustrating that individuals were vulnerable to chemical risk. This paper features assessments of uranium and its risks to public health in groundwater samples if it exceeded the safe limit. Additionally, it recognizes the value of periodically assessing and treating the area’s drinking water sources.

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“…Unlike in northern India, no specific pattern of contamination was identified in southern India. Uranium concentrations in regions of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana were noted as sporadic, varying from extremely high (1452 μg L –1 ) to as low as 1 μg L –1 . , Similar distribution of U was observed in the states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. − Such spatial distribution of U could likely result from U deposits in unconformities identified in proximity to the contaminated zones of these regions …”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 79%

Investigation of Potential Drivers of Elevated Uranium Prevalence in Indian Groundwaters with a Unified Speciation Model

Sujathan

Singh

2023

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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Elevated uranium (U) (>WHO limit of 30 μg L −1 ) in Indian groundwaters is primarily considered geogenic, but the specific mineralogical sources and mechanisms for U mobilization are poorly understood. In this contribution, statistical and geochemical analyses of well-constrained metadata of Indian groundwater quality (n = 342 of 8543) were performed to identify key parameters and processes that influence U concentrations. For geochemical predictions, a unified speciation model was developed from a carefully compiled and updated thermodynamic database of inorganic, organic (Stockholm Humic model), and surface complexation reactions and associated constants. Critical U contamination was found at shallow depths (<100 m) within the Indo-Gangetic plain, as determined by bivariate nonparametric Kendall's Tau b and probability-based association tests. Analysis of aquifer redox states, multivariate hierarchical clusters, and principal components indicated that U contamination was predominant not just in oxic but mixed (oxic−anoxic) aquifers under high Fe, Mn, and SO 4 concentrations, presumably due to U release from dissolution of Fe/Mn oxides or Fe sulfides and silicate weathering. Most groundwaters were undersaturated with respect to relevant U-bearing solids despite being supersaturated with respect to atmospheric CO 2 (average pCO 2 of reported dissolved inorganic carbonate (DIC) data = 10 −1.57 atm). Yet, dissolved U did not appear to be mass limited, as predicted solubilities from reported sediment concentrations of U were ∼3 orders of magnitude higher. Integration of surface complexation models of U on typical aquifer adsorbents, ferrihydrite, goethite, and manganese dioxide, was necessary to explain dissolved U concentrations. Uranium contamination probabilities with increasing dissolved Ca and Mn exhibited minima at equilibrium solubilities of calcite [∼50 mg L −1 ] and rhodochrosite [∼0.14 mg L −1 ], respectively, at an average groundwater pH of ∼7.5. A potential indirect control of such U-free carbonate solids on U mobilization was suggested. For locations (n = 37) where dissolved organic carbon was also reported, organic complexes of U contributed negligibly to dominant U speciation at the groundwater pH. Overall, the unified model suggested competitive dissolution−precipitation and adsorption−desorption controls on U speciation. The model provides a quantitative framework that can be extended to understand dominant mobilization mechanisms of geogenic U in aquifers worldwide after suitable modifications to the relevant aquifer parameters.

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Influence of physico-chemical parameters on the distribution of uranium in the ground water of Bangalore, India

Cited by 20 publications

References 3 publications

Elevated uranium in drinking water sources in basement aquifers of southern India

Elevated uranium in drinking water sources in basement aquifers of southern India

Estimation of Natural Uranium and Its Risk-Assessment in Groundwater of Bangalore Urban District of Karnataka, India

Investigation of Potential Drivers of Elevated Uranium Prevalence in Indian Groundwaters with a Unified Speciation Model

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