Analysis of Uranium, Thorium and Radon in Drinking Water

In Malwa region of Punjab, the problem of uranium contamination in groundwater has become very acute. Uranium in drinking water can be extremely dangerous because it becomes part of the entire ecological system of the Malwa region of Punjab. The debate about the source of the apparent uranium contamination continues. Some authors speculate that industries like coal-fired power plants (CFPPs), fertilizer factories, chemical factories, cement factories etc. have an impact. Others speculate that uranium could have originated from the nearby Tosham ring complex in Bhiwani district of the neighbouring state of Haryana, where high radioactive high heat producing granite rocks are present on the surface. Being a prominent agriculture based state, the Malwa region of Punjab is facing an unprecedented crisis of environmental health linked to indiscriminate, excessive, and unsafe use of pesticides, fertilizers and poor groundwater quality. The region has been described as India’s “cancer capital” due to abnormally high number of cancer prevalent in the cases. The book reports the results of uranium, thorium and radon measurements in groundwater.