Department Of Environmental Science And Technology

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Author: search.filters.author.Mittal, SunilSubject: search.filters.subject.Punjab

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Now showing 1 - 6 of 6
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    Co-occurrence of geogenic uranium and fluoride in a semiarid belt of the Punjab plains, India
    (Elsevier B.V., 2023-10-05T00:00:00) Chaudhari, Umakant; Mehta, Madhu; Sahoo, Prafulla Kumar; Mittal, Sunil; Tiwari, Raghavendra P.
    The inordinate presence of uranium (U) and fluoride (F?) in shallow aquifers of arid/semi-arid regions in northern India has raised a serious health concern; the Muktsar district of Punjab is one such example. In the present study, a total of 38 groundwater samples (17 from <100 ft (very shallow; VSL), 21 from >100 to 180 ft (shallow; SL)) were collected from this district to understand the current health risk associated with U and F? and the major factors/processes influencing these contaminants. Groundwater in the study area is mostly alkaline and oxic in nature. The concentration of U ranged from 18.5 ?g/L to 456 ?g/L exceeding the WHO permissible limit (>30 ?g/L) in 93 and 100% samples from VSL and SL respectively, while F? concentration (ranged from 0.3 to 14.4 mg/L) above the limit (>1.5 mg/L) were found in 75 and 57% samples from VSL and SL respectively. As per the depth-wise distribution of U and F?, there is no significant difference between VSL and SL samples, with a few exceptions. Spearman rank correlation (?) shows a significant positive correlation (p-value < 0.05) between U and F? (? = 0.5), and U with total dissolved solid (TDS) (? = 0.5), salinity (? = 0.6), and bicarbonate (HCO3?) (? = 0.7) and a positive association of F? with TDS (? = 0.3), salinity (? = 0.3), and HCO3? (? = 0.3), indicating these parameters are responsible for the co-occurrence of U and F?. Moreover, this geochemical signature is attributed to their geogenic origin. Uranium speciation data show that UO2(CO3)22? and UO2(CO3)34? are dominant species, while F? predominantly occurs as F? species. The regions with high concentration of U and F? in groundwater primarily have mixed type species (Na�HCO3 and NaCl type). Geochemical modelling revealed that the precipitation of calcite, dolomite, and aragonite is favourable for mobility of F? in groundwater. The hazard quotient (HQ) of F? for adults and children exceeds 1 in 57.8% and 65.7% of samples, respectively, while in case of U, 94.7% and 100% samples exceed 1, respectively, indicating the latter is having greater health impact on local people. The current data indicated an urgent demand to develop low-cost and effective remedial techniques to manage groundwater contamination in this region. � 2023
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    Meta-analysis of uranium contamination in groundwater of the alluvial plains of Punjab, northwest India: Status, health risk, and hydrogeochemical processes
    (Elsevier B.V., 2021-11-23T00:00:00) Sahoo, Prafulla Kumar; Virk, Hardev Singh; Powell, Mike A.; Kumar, Ravishankar; Pattanaik, Jitendra Kumar; Salom�o, Gabriel Negreiros; Mittal, Sunil; Chouhan, Lokesh; Nandabalan, Yogalakshmi Kadapakkam; Tiwari, Raghavendra Prasad
    Despite numerous studies, there are many knowledge gaps in our understanding of uranium (U) contamination in the alluvial aquifers of Punjab, India. In this study, a large hydrogeochemical dataset was compiled to better understand the major factors controlling the mobility and enrichment of uranium (U) in this groundwater system. The results showed that shallow groundwaters (<60 m) are more contaminated with U than from deeper depths (>60 m). This effect was predominant in the Southwest districts of the Malwa, facing significant risk due to chemical toxicity of U. Groundwaters are mostly oxidizing and alkaline (median pH: 7.25 to 7.33) in nature. Spearman correlation analysis showed that U concentrations are more closely related to total dissolved solids (TDS), salinity, Na, K, HCO3?, NO3? Cl?, and F? in shallow water than deep water, but TDS and salinity remained highly correlated (U-TDS: ? = 0.5 to 0.6; U-salinity: ? = 0.5). This correlation suggests that the salt effect due to high competition between ions is the principal cause of U mobilization. This effect is evident when the U level increased with increasing mixed water species (Na-Cl, Mg-Cl, and Na-HCO3). Speciation data showed that the most dominant U species are Ca2UO2(CO3)2? and CaUO2(CO3)3?, which are responsible for the U mobility. Based on the field parameters, TDS along with pH and oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) were better fitted to U concentration above the WHO guideline value (30 ?g.L?1), thus this combination could be used as a quick indicator of U contamination. The strong positive correlation of U with F? (? = 0.5) in shallow waters indicates that their primary source is geogenic, while anthropogenic factors such as canal irrigation, groundwater table decline, and use of agrochemicals (mainly nitrate fertilizers) as well as climate-related factors i.e., high evaporation under arid/semi-arid climatic conditions, which result in higher redox and TDS/salinity levels, may greatly affect enrichment of U. The geochemical rationale of this study will provide Science-based-policy implications for U health risk assessment in this region and further extrapolate these findings to other arid/semi-arid areas worldwide. � 2021 Elsevier B.V.
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    Multi-parametric groundwater quality and human health risk assessment vis-�-vis hydrogeochemical process in an Agri-intensive region of Indus basin, Punjab, India
    (Taylor and Francis Ltd., 2021-06-14T00:00:00) Jaswal, Vijay; Kumar, Ravishankar; Sahoo, Prafulla Kumar; Mittal, Sunil; Kumar, Ajay; Sahoo, Sunil Kumar; Nandabalan, Yogalakshmi Kadapakkam
    The groundwater quality of the Indus basin of Punjab, India, is a serious concern due to the existence of toxic contaminants. Although, this contamination has been documented in some studies, some part of this basin is scantily explored. This is true for the Fazilka district of Malwa region, Punjab. In the present study, a total of 78 groundwater samples were collected from this district to evaluate their suitability for drinking and irrigation purpose, to understand the current hydrogeochemical processes involved and assess the human health risk status of the region. The results of the water quality index (WQI) revealed that majority of the groundwater samples were of poor quality with U, F?, SO42?, and NO3? exceeding the BIS limit in 60%, 94%, 43%, and 19% of samples, respectively. The groundwater geochemistry is mainly influenced by rock-water interaction. Ca-Mg-Cl water type is identified as the dominant hydrogeochemical facies, followed by Ca-Mg-SO42? and Na-Cl types. The Mg2+ and Na+ were identified as the major cations, while SO42? and HCO3? existed as the dominant anions. Furthermore, the results of Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Hierarchical cluster and Pearson correlation matrix (PCM) analyses corroborated the elevated level of U, F?, SO42? with geogenic activity supplemented with agrochemical activities. The annual effective intake dose of U exceeded the WHO recommended mean annual effective dose of U (100 �Sv y?1) for all age groups with infants recording the highest dose of U (151 �Sv y?1). Moreover, the non-cancer risk of U and F? exceeded the USEPA limit (HQ-1) in majority of the sites. The high cumulative risk of non-carcinogenic contaminants (HI-4.6) in the entire study area is a matter of grave concern. � 2021 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
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    Hydrochemical characteristics and human health risk assessment of groundwater in the Shivalik region of Sutlej basin, Punjab, India
    (Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, 2021-05-10T00:00:00) Mittal, Sunil; Sahoo, Prafulla Kumar; Sahoo, Sunil Kumar; Kumar, Ravishankar; Tiwari, Raghavendra Prasad
    Shivalik region is one of the agri-intensive regions in Punjab, India, wherein groundwater quality is a major human health concern. In this study, a total of 57 groundwater samples were collected from the Rupnagar district of this region (one sample per 36 km2) to evaluate its quality, the role of hydrogeochemical processes in its contamination, and further their potential human health hazards. The results indicate that the major water chemistry is governed by carbonate weathering followed by silicate weathering. The Fe, Mg, Mn, Se, and HCO3- concentrations exceeded the BIS drinking water standards in 86, 51, 11, 9, and 79% of the samples, respectively. Piper and Durov plots indicated the dominance of Ca-HCO3- water types, followed by Ca-Mg-Cl- and Ca-Cl-. Furthermore, multivariate analyses indicated the geogenic origin for Fe, Mg, Mn, Se, SO42-, and anthropogenic sources (agrochemicals, cement factories, and fly ash) for NO3-, Cu, and Cr. The estimated carcinogenic risk of As and Cr falls under the very low (10-6) to low (10-5) risks category. Furthermore, the cumulative risk of non-carcinogenic contaminants (F-, U, NO3-) (HI-0.93) is at an alarming level and also close to the boundary line of USEPA limits (HI-1). There is an urgent need to undertake suitable policy measures for sustainability of groundwater quality. � 2021, Saudi Society for Geosciences.
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    Source apportionment, chemometric pattern recognition and health risk assessment of groundwater from southwestern Punjab, India
    (Springer Science and Business Media B.V., 2020-02-06T00:00:00) Kumar, Ravishankar; Mittal, Sunil; Sahoo, Prafulla Kumar; Sahoo, Sunil Kumar
    The groundwater quality of southwestern Punjab, India, is a serious cause of concern due to the presence of chemical contaminants in it. However, limited studies of groundwater quality, sources of chemical contaminants and their health risks are available for the region. Hence, this study was conducted to investigate the source, distribution and potential health risk assessment of groundwater quality in three districts of southwestern Punjab, India. The spatial distribution of groundwater chemical contaminants and their potential health risks have been illustrated using inverse distance weighting interpolation technique. The concentration of fluoride (F?; ranged from 0.08 to 4.79�mg�L?1) exceeded the WHO limit (1.5��g�L?1) in 80 and 50% samples collected from Bathinda and Ludhiana districts, respectively. The uranium (U) concentration ranged from 0.5 to 432��g�L?1 and shows ~ 85%, 75% and 10% of samples collected from Bathinda, Barnala and Ludhiana districts exceeded the WHO drinking water limit (30��g�L?1), respectively. The groundwater quality of the Bathinda district is a matter of concern due to elevated levels of alkalinity, hardness, fluoride, uranium and nitrate (NO3?). The principal component analysis shows close association between F? and U, which indicates their geogenic origin. Further, they also seem to be subordinately influenced by diffuse anthropogenic activities. The clustering of Cu and Pb with NO3? and SO42? indicates their anthropogenic origin. The non-carcinogenic health risk assessment indicates that F?, NO3? and U are the major health risk pollutants in the study area. The carcinogenic health risk of As and Cr exceeded the USEPA limits (10?6) in the entire study area, but observed to be more serious for the district Bathinda (10?3�10?5). The spatial distribution maps illustrate that the health risk for Bathinda district inhabitants is higher than Barnala and Ludhiana districts. � 2020, Springer Nature B.V.
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    Geochemical assessment of groundwater contaminants and associated health risks in the Shivalik region of Punjab, India
    (Taylor and Francis Ltd., 2020-08-07T00:00:00) Mittal, Sunil; Kumar, Ravishankar; Sahoo, Prafulla Kumar; Sahoo, Sunil Kumar
    The present study investigates the groundwater suitability for drinking and irrigation purposes in the Shivalik region of Punjab, India. The results revealed that the concentration of Se, U, and F? exceeded BIS acceptable drinking water standards in 18%, 9%, and 16% samples, respectively. Multivariate analyses indicate the geogenic origin for As, U, Fe, F? and SO42?, and anthropogenic for NO3?, Cu, and Cr. The carcinogenic risk of drinking water is in very low (10?6) to low (10?5) category, while cumulative non-carcinogenic risk (HI-1.2) is slightly higher than USEPA limits (HI-1). The groundwater quality was found suitable for irrigation purpose. � 2020 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.