Uranium and Heavy Metal Contamination of Sirhind Canal Water and Groundwater in the Malwa Belt of Punjab and its Mitigation Strategies

Abstract

Inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICPMS) has been used to measure the Uranium and heavy metals content of the Sirhind canal water and ground water samples of adjoining villages of the collection points along the canal. The aim of this study is to propose mitigation strategies for Uranium in the groundwater of Malwa belt. The uranium and heavy metal content of the water samples collected at the five different locations downstream along the canal are below the detection limit (BDL), except for the Iron content which is below the acceptable limit in three samples. According to Central Groundwater Board report, 18 out of 22 districts (80% area) of Punjab are affected by Uranium contamination of groundwater. Mitigation strategies for Arsenic, Fluoride and Uranium were planned under the World Bank Project sanctioned to Punjab in 2015.Our investigations suggest that the best solution for the mitigation of Uranium in the groundwater of Malwa belt is to opt for the supply of canal water as a substitute for underground water being supplied through tubewells.

Keywords: BDL, cancer risk, heavy metals, Sirhind canal, underground water, Uranium content

Cite this Article

Savneet Kaur Kailley, Hardev Singh Virk. Uranium and Heavy Metal Contamination of Sirhind Canal Water and Groundwater in the Malwa Belt of Punjab and its Mitigation Strategies. Research & Reviews: A Journal of Toxicology. 2020; 10(1): 34–41p.