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High levels of uranium in groundwater: Study

  • Posted By
    10Pointer
  • Categories
    Environment
  • Published
    18th Dec, 2021

Context

A chemical analysis of groundwater in 73 villages of Karnataka has found high levels of uranium concentration in groundwater of at least 57 villages.

  • The uranium concentration in these villages was at least 30 micrograms per litre (μg / l). In 48 of these villages, the levels exceeded 60 μg / l.

About Uranium

  • Uranium is a naturally occurring radioactive element that occurs in low concentrations in nature.
  • It powers nuclear reactors and atomic bombs. It is as common in the Earth's crust as tin, tungsten and molybdenum.
  • Found in: This heavy metal is present in natural form in certain types of soils and rocks, especially granites and meta-sedimentary rocks, as well as younger sedimentary deposits.
  • Uranium occurs in seawater, and can be recovered from the oceans. 
  • Uranium was discovered in 1789 by Martin Klaproth, a German chemist, in the mineral called pitchblende.
  • This naturally radioactive element, powers nuclear reactors and atomic bombs.

Reason for uranium contamination

Uranium can also be introduced in drinking water sources due to human induced activities such as:

  • mill tailings
  • emissions from the nuclear industry
  • due to burning of coal and other fuels

Impact of Uranium in drinking water

  • Uranium in drinking water raises concerns because of its chemical toxicity. Uranium (U) has no known essential biological functions. 
  • Chronic exposureto low-level U isotopes (radionuclides) may be interlinked with cancer etiology and at high exposure levels, also kidney disease.

Verifying, please be patient.