Distribution of uranium concentration in groundwater samples from the Peddagattu/Nambapur and Seripally regions using laser fluorimetry

• Published in: Radiation protection dosimetry Vol. 158; no. 3; pp. 325 - 330
• Main Authors: Raghavendra, T, Srilatha, K, Mahender, C, Elander, M, Vijayalakshmi, T, Himabindu, V, Prasad, Vishwa, Padma Savithri, P, Datta, D, Arunachalam, J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 2014
• Subjects: Drinking Water; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Fluorometry - methods; Geography; Groundwater - analysis; India; Radiation Monitoring - methods; Uranium - analysis; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Water Pollutants, Radioactive - analysis; Water Supply; India; USA; India, Andhra Pradesh
• ISSN: 0144-8420; 1742-3406
• DOI: 10.1093/rpd/nct228

Uranium is a naturally occurring element, which is widespread in nature. It is found in low levels within all rocks, soils and water. Peddagattu and Seripally areas of Nalgonda district, Andhra Pradesh, India were known as a rich uranium mineralised zone. Atomic mineral division and Baba Atomic Research Center proposed a uranium mine in this area. This study was carried out to know the distribution of uranium concentration in the groundwater samples by using laser fluorimetry. The observation reveals that the uranium concentration in the groundwater of this region ranges from 0.6 to 521.15 ppb. About 43 % of the groundwater samples had the uranium concentration above the standards set by United States Environmental Protection Agency (30 ppb).