URANIUM CONTAMINATION OF GROUND WATER IN TALWANDI SABO BLOCK AND ADJOINING AREAS IN BHATINDA DISTRICT, SOUTHWEST PUNJAB STATE, INDIA WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO HEALTH RISK ASSESMENT

High concentration of uranium (up to 98 microgram/l) in the ground water drawn from top shallow aquifer up to 60 m has been observed in the area which is more than the permissible limits of W.H.O. and USEPA for drinking water use. Geologically, in the alluvium, geochemical mobilisation of uranium has occurred under high TDS and high bicarbonate hydrochemical regime. Large cases of cancer have been reported in the area which is also known as cancer belt of the state. The radiolologiclal risk due to consumption of uranium through drinking water varies from 0.014 x 10¯4 to 2.7 x 10¯4 . The chemical toxicity has been found to vary from 0.082 to 1.65 microgram kg¯1 day¯1. Remedial measures such as treatment of drinking water using reverse osmosis technology are suggested to alleviate health problems.