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Risk assessment of exposure to radon concentration and heavy metal analysis in drinking water samples in some areas of Jammu & Kashmir, India
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Radon concentration was measured in drinking water samples in some areas of Jammu & Kashmir, India, using RAD 7, an electronic solid state silicon detector. The observed values of radon concentration in some samples exceed the safe limit as recommended by the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). These samples were also analyzed for concentration of certain heavy elements like As, Pb, Zn, Cu, Hg, Ni, and Cd using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometer (ICP-AES). The study was undertaken from the health hazard point of view.
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... Heavy metal content in groundwater around two proposed uranium mining areas in Jharkhand, India, was within the Indian and WHO standards for drinking water (Giri et al., 2012). Kumar et al. (2015) have analyzed different trace metals in drinking water of Jammu & Kashmir, India and results showed that the concentrations of metals in water samples were below the prescribed limits (Kumar et al., 2015). To protect human health, the WHO and USEPA have developed guideline values for regulating the maximum contamination levels (MCLs) in water for metals. ...
... Heavy metal content in groundwater around two proposed uranium mining areas in Jharkhand, India, was within the Indian and WHO standards for drinking water (Giri et al., 2012). Kumar et al. (2015) have analyzed different trace metals in drinking water of Jammu & Kashmir, India and results showed that the concentrations of metals in water samples were below the prescribed limits (Kumar et al., 2015). To protect human health, the WHO and USEPA have developed guideline values for regulating the maximum contamination levels (MCLs) in water for metals. ...
The present study was conducted to investigate trace metal (Fe, Mn, Cd, Pb, Zn, Cu, Al, As, Se, Hg, Sr, Ba, Li, Co, B, Ni, Ag, Mo and Cr) concentrations of drinking water samples in Lianhuashan District, China. Furthermore, the study aimed to ascertain carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risks of metals by ingestion and dermal absorption pathways to the local residents. Metal concentrations were compared with permissible limits set by the Chinese Standards, USEPA and WHO. The average concentrations of the analyzed elements are in the order of Fe > Sr > Mn > Al > Ba > Mo > Zn > B > Li > Pb > Cr > Ni > Cu > Ag > Co > As > Se > Cd > Hg. The results indicate that the concentrations of Cd, Zn, Cu, Ni, Se, Hg, Ba and Cr were lower than their respective permissible limits, whereas the concentrations of Fe, Mn, Pb, Al, As and Mo at some sampling sites exceeded the permissible limits. The total hazard index (HQ total ) of the metals (Cd, Zn, Cu, Al, Se, Hg, Sr, Ba, B, Ni, Ag, Cr) calculated through ingestion and dermal absorption pathways for adults and children were found to be lower than unity, indicating that the metals would not pose any adverse effect and non-carcinogenic health risk to the habitants. The results of carcinogenic risk assessment indicate that the Excess Lifetime Cancer Risk (ingestion and dermal exposure pathways) of metals exposure was in accordance to the acceptable lifetime risks for carcinogens in drinking water (10 ⁻⁶ –10 ⁻⁴ ). Both non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks were mainly attributed to the ingestion pathways.
... 58 Apart from ionizing radiation, there are other agents in underground work environments such as arsenic, diesel exhausts, welding smoke or genotoxic rock. 52,59 Chomosomal abberations had been related to chromatid exchange among non-exposed population. 9,58,60 The mechanism of chromosomal aberration in radon source area is summarized in Table 3. ...
... [82][83][84] Our review result showed that chromosomal delinquency in non-mining individuals can occur after the patients are exposed in years. 59 The patients can suffer from blood lymphocytes even though they are not nuclear miners or smokers. Our review also gives evidence that a dose-response above limiting exposure can bring abberations as experienced by miners group exposed to low dose of radon levels. ...
Radon as radioactive gas is distributed naturally in free air environments with potential risk to health and cancer disease. Radon with certain radiation exposure dose has both negative and positive effects impacting human cell immunity and protein molecules. The decreased immune cells and molecular proteins caused by radon will impact on lung cancer through unique mechanism and carcinogenesis risk. There is substantial evidence that the dose of radon exposure has effected in human immunity. However, literature body on radon exposure and doses are not systematically arranged. This paper provides a review explaining the exact dose of the exposure systematically. This paper describes the effect of both high and low doses of radon exposure to human body. This paper also summarizes the effect of both doses toward cellular and molecular levels impacting the pulmonary carcinogenesis risks. This paper also explains the mechanism of p53 mutation caused by radon exposure and exposure type toward the patient. We also describe the exposure effect toward patients with background of non-smoking, smoking and uranium miners. Finally, we compare the radon exposure toward human immune mechanism and the genetic responses. This paper provides significant analysis result in explaining radon-induced carcinogenesis as risk identifiers especially at cellular and molecular level.mi
... The chemical properties of metals as well as their degree of toxicity are related to the problems caused by the environment closely related to their positions in the periodic table. Their gravity is due to the fact that they are transitional elements and have the ability to form stable complexes with a large group of organic and inorganic compounds in living organisms [7] .Soil is one of the major repositories of human waste and the processes that biochemical can be mobilized to contaminate water supplies and the impact on food chains [3] . Heavy metals are released from their sources far from their emission point with the help of the atmospheric (wind). ...
... Heavy metals are released from their sources far from their emission point with the help of the atmospheric (wind). PH is also an important measure in the soil system as it directly or indirectly affects absorption, sedimentation, decomposition, complex formation, oxidation and reduction reactions and is important in determining the behavior of these elements In the soil [7] . As well as the importance of organic matter in the soil, which consists of living organisms and biochemical (amino acids, proteins, carbohydrates and organic acids) and affect these materials on soil construction and water retention [3] . ...
The study aimed to measure the concentration of five heavy elements in the soil of Shattrah City. Attempt to detect the number of pollution levels of heavy metal and make comparisons between this level and international standard determinants.Using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer device (Flam Atomic absorption (FAA)) We were selected (7) different stations in the city, including (old crowded residential, industrial, modern crowded residential, Industrial, area exposers bombed in 2003, and areas closed to the busy streets to vehicles) samples were collected during the month of June and July of 2016-2015, Values were arranged[(171.6857 ppm), (12.27 ppm), (66.4142 ppm), (21.5 ppm), (20.928 ppm)] respectively, the present results indicate that there were high ratio of lead, cadmium and zinc in all study areas and this other evidence of soil contamination.
... The chemical properties of metals as well as their degree of toxicity are related to the problems caused by the environment closely related to their positions in the periodic table. Their gravity is due to the fact that they are transitional elements and have the ability to form stable complexes with a large group of organic and inorganic compounds in living organisms [7] .Soil is one of the major repositories of human waste and the processes that biochemical can be mobilized to contaminate water supplies and the impact on food chains [3] . Heavy metals are released from their sources far from their emission point with the help of the atmospheric (wind). ...
... Heavy metals are released from their sources far from their emission point with the help of the atmospheric (wind). PH is also an important measure in the soil system as it directly or indirectly affects absorption, sedimentation, decomposition, complex formation, oxidation and reduction reactions and is important in determining the behavior of these elements In the soil [7] . As well as the importance of organic matter in the soil, which consists of living organisms and biochemical (amino acids, proteins, carbohydrates and organic acids) and affect these materials on soil construction and water retention [3] . ...
... Muhammad et al. [6] investigated heavy metal levels in drinking water in Kohistan, northern Pakistan, and found that most heavy metal levels were within the Pak EPA and WHO acceptable limits. In Jammu and Kashmir, India, Kumar et al. [21] have determined trace metal concentrations in drinking water and the results of water samples demonstrated that the metal concentrations were below the permissible level. Due to the lack of awareness, the general public thinks that groundwater is safe for drinking and it is free from contamination; hence, no treatment is required for groundwater. ...
Lead (Pb) is a toxic environmental contaminant, which enters water bodies from natural and anthropogenic activities. The present study investigates the Pb concentration in groundwater sources and evaluates their potential health risks in Palosai area, Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Groundwater samples were collected from different groundwater sources in the area where the human blood samples were from the dependent residents. Pb concentration was analyzed using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer and compared with the permissible limits set by Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency and World Health Organization (WHO). The levels of physicochemical parameters were observed within the said safe limits, while the levels of Pb in different groundwater sources (tube wells and wells) showed a little bit variation. Health risk indicators such as chronic daily intake (CDI) and hazard quotient (HQ) were calculated for Pb. The calculated value of CDI and HQ for Pb via groundwater consumption was 0.001 mg/kg·day and 2.8 E − 02 mg/kg·day, respectively; however, the overall HQ values of Pb in the groundwater were less than 1, indicating no health risk to the local depending community.
... However, mercury is a dangerous heavy metal because of its toxicity and bio-accumulation in many species. This has triggered the search for less-toxic alternatives [5][6][7]. Nowadays, carbon is one of the most advantageous materials for low-cost and flexible-design electrodes. Glassy carbon, carbon paste or screen-printed carbon electrodes (SPCE) are easy to fabricate and to modify for sensor development [8][9][10]. ...
Paper-based carbon working electrodes were modified with mercury or bismuth films for the determination of trace metals in aqueous solutions. Both modification procedures were optimized in terms of selectivity and sensitivity for the determination of different heavy metals, aiming their simultaneous determination. Cd (II), Pb (II) and In (III) could be quantified with both films. However, Cu (II) could not be determined with bismuth films. The modification with mercury films led to the most sensitive method, with linear ranges between 0.1 and 10 µg/mL and limits of detection of 0.4, 0.1, 0.04 and 0.2 µg/mL for Cd (II), Pb (II), In (III) and Cu (II), respectively. Nevertheless, the bismuth film was a more sustainable alternative to mercury. Tap-water samples were analyzed for the determination of metals by standard addition methodology with good accuracy, by using a low-cost and easily disposable paper-based electrochemical platform. This system demonstrated its usefulness for monitoring heavy metals in water.
The presence of radon and heavy metals in water is considered as a potential threat to public health. This study aimed to estimate the health risk related to radon concentration and heavy metals in drinking water samples, which taken from in Kalisa sub-district of Ra-ngae district, Narathiwat province. Radon concentration was measured by a solid state nuclear track detector (SSNTD, CR-39). The measured values ranged from 0.17 to 7.63 Bq l ⁻¹ , which is much below the safe limits proposed by the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) and UN Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation. The mean annual effective dose calculated for these samples was also found to be within the limits provided by WHO and EU council. Three mineral water sources were also analyzed for concentration of certain heavy elements like As, Fe, and, Pb by using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometer, (ICP-OES). Out of these, concentrations of As were found to exceed the permissible limits suggested by WHO. However, safety limit of national standard for arsenic in drinking water remains at 0.05 mg l ⁻¹ .
Fish is a rich source of proteins for humans and is widely consumed in various places in the world. This study assessed the levels of twenty trace metals (B, Al, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Sr, Mo, Cd, Sn, Sb, Ba, Hg and Pb) in fish feeds (n = 2), water (n = 27), and edible muscles of Oreochromis mossambicus (n = 20 from 8 ponds) from fish farms and Luvuvhu River (n = 3 from 1 river site) in Vhembe district of Limpopo Province, South Africa. Physicochemical parameters of water in the study area were analysed. Temperature ranged between 21.4 -30.47 °C, pH: 5.59 - 7.28, electrical conductivity: 608 - 1216 μS/cm, total dissolved solids: 156 - 675 mg/l, dissolved oxygen: 0.28 - 0.56 mg/l, turbidity: 3.92 - 356.7 NTU, respectively. Levels of most trace metals such as Cr (2 µg/l and 1000 µg/kg), Mn (100 µg/l and 500 µg/kg), Fe (10 µg/l and 300 µg/kg), Ni (20 µg/l and 100 µg/kg), As (50 µg/l and 3 µg/kg), Pb (10 µg/l and 300 µg/kg) and Cu (2 µg/l and 2250 µg/kg) in water and O. mossambicus muscles were mostly below the World Health Organization (WHO), Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO)/WHO and European Commission (EC) recommended limit in the collected samples (Tshifulalani site and Duthuni site). However, Cu and Fe recorded concentration above the recommended limit at the control site (Luvuvhu River) in water and O. mossambicus muscles, respectively. Results from the bioaccumulation factor (BF), suggests the presence of metals in the water which can bioaccumulate in the fish muscles. Most of the metals (As, Cd, Hg, Mo, Sr, Sb and Sn) that recorded no possible bioaccumulation also recorded levels that complied with their maximum permissible limit (MPL) of WHO, FAO/WHO and EC guideline values in the fish feeds except for Se and Co. Moderate bioaccumulation was recorded for Cr, Mn, Fe and Zn in some of the sampling sites. Pb and Ni showed extreme bioaccumulation (BF > 5000) in one of the sampling sites and also recorded elevated levels in the fish feeds. Average daily dose (ADD), hazard quotient (HQ) and total hazard quotient (THQ) computed were less than 1. The Cancer risk (CR) evaluated were all below 10⁻⁴ except in one site for children (Tshifulanani 2) but the overall average result showed no carcinogenic health risk to the consumers of the O. mossambicus. Therefore, O. mossambicus intake in the study area should be constantly monitored to prevent future health implications.
A sensor for Hg (II) determination in water was developed by using paper working electrodes modified with nanomaterials. The cellulose matrix was modified with hybrids of carbon nanofibers (CNFs) or reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), in order to increase the selectivity and sensitivity. The AuNPs helped the electrodeposition of Hg (II) at more positive potentials, due to their affinity for mercury. The determination was possible up to 1.2 μM with no interference of other heavy metals such as Cd (II), Pb (II), Cu (II) and Zn (II). The CNFs/AuNPs modified paper-based electrode was the most sensitive option with a detection limit of 30 nM. River water samples were evaluated by the standard addition method.
Radon gas is a significant health threat linked to thousands of preventable deaths each year. In this paper, radon activity
concentration is measured in 260 groundwater samples collected from 65 villages in the Bathinda district of Punjab State,
India, using Rad7, an electronic radon detector (Durridge Co., USA). The radon concentration varies from 0.9±0.2 to 5.1±0.3
Bq l−1 with a mean value of 2.63 Bq l−1. The recorded values of radon concentration in groundwater are within the safe limit of 11 Bq l−1 recommended by the US Environmental Protection Agency. The annual effective dose in stomach and lungs per person is also
evaluated in this research. The estimated total annual effective dose of adults ranged from 8.82 to 49.98 µSv y−1. The total annual effective dose from all locations of the studied area is found to be within the safe limit (0.1 mSv y−1), recommended by World Health Organisation and EU Council.
The present study represents the set of measurements for radon concentration levels in ground water using electronic radon meter (RAD7) and for assessment of indoor radon the LR-115 Type II plastic track detectors have been used. The measurements have been taken for the environs and ground water of National Institute of Technology, Jalandhar. The radon concentration in drinking water has been found to vary from 2560 to 7750 Bqm-3 with an average value of 5143.33 Bqm-3. The pH value for the ground water under study has also been measured and it varies from 6.96 to 7.0 with an average value of 6.99. No correlation has been observed between pH value and radon concentration values for ground water. The calculated indoor radon concentration values vary from 74 to 190 Bqm-3 with an average values of 124.50 Bqm-3. The calculated values for the absorbed dose are in the range 1.26 - 3.24 mSv.y-1, which is well below the action level.
Radon monitoring has been increasingly conducted worldwide because of the hazardous effects of radon on the health of human
beings. In the present research, groundwater samples were taken from hand pumps at different areas of the districts of SriGanganagar,
Hanumangarh, Sikar and Churu in northern Rajasthan. RAD7, an electronic radon detector (Durridge co., USA), was used to estimate
the radon concentration in groundwater used for drinking. Radon concentration in the groundwater ranged from 0.5 ± 0.3 Bq
l−1 (Chimanpura) to 85.7±4.9 Bq l−1(Khandela) with an average value of 9.03±1.03 Bq l−1. In 89 % of the samples, radon concentration is well below the allowed maximum contamination level (MCL) of radon concentration
in water of 11 Bq l−1, proposed by US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). Only in 11 % of the samples, the recorded values were found to be
higher than MCL proposed by USEPA and only in 5 % of the samples, the recorded values were found to be higher than the values
between 4 and 40 Bq l−1 suggested for radon concentration in water for human consumption by the United Nations Scientific Committee on the effect
of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR). The annual effective dose in stomach and lungs per person was also evaluated in this research.
The estimated total annual effective dose of adults ranged from 1.34 to 229.68 µSv y–1. The total annual effective dose from three locations of the studied area was found to be greater than the safe limit (0.1
mSv y–1) recommended by World Health Organization and EU Council.
Exposure to radon occurs when breathing airborne radon while using water: showering, washing dishes, cooking, and drinking water that contain radon. The results of radon activity measurements in water from public drinking fountain in city of Novi Sad, Serbia is presented in this paper. Radon level in some samples exceeded EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) recommendation for maximum contaminant level (MCL) for radon in drinking water of 11.1 Bq/l.
The activities of antioxidant enzymes—copper, zinc- and manganese-superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD and MnSOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione S-transferase (GST) and glutathione reductase (GR)—were examined in the liver, heart, small intestine and brain, after supplementation with chelated forms of Cu and Zn. In the supplemented animals increased activity of CuZnSOD were found in the liver and heart. Activity of MnSOD and GSH-Px in the heart and GSH-Px in small intestine was decreased. After 43 days of Cu and Zn supplementation no changes in enzymes activity in the rats brain were found. The increased CuZnSOD activity in liver and heart after supplementation may be due to increased levels of the accumulation of excess Cu and Zn in these tissues. Decreased activity of other antioxidant enzymes could be the consequence of establishing a new antioxidant homeostasis, as Zn and Cu may act as antioxidants.
Most local people in the agricultural areas of Hua-ruea sub-district, Ubon Ratchathani province (Thailand), generally consume shallow groundwater from farm wells. This study aimed to assess the health risk related to heavy metal contamination in that groundwater. Samples were randomly collected from 12 wells twice in each of the rainy and the dry seasons and were analyzed by inductive coupled plasma spectrometry-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The concentration of detected metals in each well and the overall mean were below the acceptable groundwater standard limits for As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni and Zn, but Pb levels were higher in four wells with an overall average Pb concentration of 16.66 ± 18.52 μg/l. Exposure questionnaires, completed by face-to-face interviews with 100 local people who drink groundwater from farm wells, were used to evaluate the hazard quotients (HQs) and hazard indices (HIs). The HQs for non-carcinogenic risk for As, Cu, Zn and Pb, with a range of 0.004-2.901, 0.053-54.818, 0.003-6.399 and 0.007-26.80, respectively, and the HI values (range from 0.10 to 88.21) exceeded acceptable limits in 58 % of the wells. The HI results were higher than one for groundwater wells located in intensively cultivated chili fields. The highest cancer risk found was 2.6 × 10(-6) for As in well no. 11. This study suggested that people living in warmer climates are more susceptible to and at greater risk of groundwater contamination because of their increased daily drinking water intake. This may lead to an increased number of cases of non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health defects among local people exposed to heavy metals by drinking the groundwater.