@Article{Sahoo_etal2022,
author="Sahoo, P. K.
and Virk, H. S.
and Powell, M. A.
and Kumar, R.
and Pattanaik, J. K.
and Salom{\~a}o, G. N.
and Mittal, S.
and Chouhan, L.
and Nandabalan, Y. K.
and Tiwari, R. P.",
title="Meta-analysis of uranium contamination in groundwater of the alluvial plains of Punjab, northwest India: Status, health risk, and hydrogeochemical processes",
journal="Science of The Total Environment",
year="2022",
volume="807",
pages="151753",
optkeywords="Agrochemicals",
optkeywords="Geogenic contamination",
optkeywords="Punjab",
optkeywords="Salinity",
optkeywords="Shallow aquifer",
optkeywords="Uranium enrichment",
abstract="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 ({\backslash}textless60 m) are more contaminated with U than from deeper depths ({\backslash}textgreater60 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: $\rho$ = 0.5 to 0.6; U-salinity: $\rho$ = 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 $\mu$g.L-1), thus this combination could be used as a quick indicator of U contamination. The strong positive correlation of U with F- ($\rho$ = 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.",
optnote="exported from refbase (http://www.uhydro.de/base/show.php?record=150), last updated on Fri, 26 Jan 2024 13:19:04 +0100",
issn="0048-9697",
opturl="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969721068297"
}