Elemental Analysis of The Environmental Samples of Some Areas of Malwa Region Punjab

Abstract

Quality of our lives depends upon the environment we live in. Pollution of any of the components of the environment may lead to several cardiovascular diseases and disorders related to nervous system. Thus analysis of a particular environment from time to time in context to its various pollutants has become the need of the hour. This study was undertaken to estimate the concentration of various radioactive and non-radioactive pollutants in water, soil and air samples collected from 20 villages of Fazilka district of Malwa region of Punjab, India. newlineUranium has both chemical and radiological toxicity with the two important target organs being the kidneys and lungs. Laser fluorimetry technique was applied for the determination of uranium in drinking water samples. 24% of the drinking water samples are exceeding the safe limits given by WHO while 9% are above the limit set by AERB. Certain health risk factors like annual effective dose, excess cancer risk and life time daily dose have also been calculated for assessment of carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk due to uranium intake. All the values of annual effective dose are within the permissible limit suggested by ICRP except for three villages. 10% of the excess cancer risk and life time daily dose values are above the safe limits prescribed by AERB. Various statistical parameters like Geometric mean (GM), Geometric standard deviation (GSD), Skewness, Kurtosis, 1st Quartile and 3rd Quartile have also been evaluated. The results indicate that uranium concentrations in the groundwater of the study area are important due to chemical toxicity risk than radiological risk. Geology of this region seems to be the most likely reason for higher Uranium content at some places but other anthropogenic possibilities cannot be ruled out. newline newline