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Uranium Contamination

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June 11, 2018

Why in news?

A study has found widespread uranium contamination in groundwater from aquifers in 16 Indian states.

What are the findings?

  • The main source of Uranium is natural.
  • But human factors such as groundwater-table decline and nitrate pollution may exacerbate the problem.
  • Over-exploitation of groundwater for irrigation also have exacerbated the problem.
  • Many of India’s aquifers are composed of clay, silt and gravel carried down from the Himalayas by streams or uranium-rich granitic rocks.
  • When overpumping of these aquifers’ groundwater occurs and their water levels decline, it induces conditions that enhance uranium enrichment in the shallow groundwater that remains.
  • Nearly a third of all water wells tested in Rajasthan contained uranium levels that exceed the WHO safe drinking water standards.
  • It also identified aquifers contaminated with similarly high levels in 26 other districts in northwestern India and nine districts in southern or southeastern India.
  • So there is a need to revise current water-quality monitoring programmes in India and re-evaluate human health risks in areas of high uranium prevalence.

 

Source: The Hindu

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