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Spatial distribution of uranium and chemo-radiological assessment in Hamirpur district, Himachal Pradesh, India

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Abstract

Monitoring of radioactivity in an environment is an important step towards establishing the baseline for environment protection. This work highlights the spatial distribution of uranium (U); assessment of physico-chemical parameters and radiological assessment in groundwater of Hamirpur district, HP, India. The concentration of U ranges from 0.15 to 18.92 μg l−1. High correlation of U is observed with TDS, Chloride and Nitrate. Major concentration of U is present along the NW–SE trend-line following the Siwalik in the areas where mineralisation is prevalent and is of geogenic source derived from granitic and volcanic rock fragments present in conglomerates. The water-quality-index indicates that the water is suitable for drinking purpose.

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(modified from CGWB, 2013)

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Acknowledgements

Authors are grateful to BRNS (P/no-IITM/DAE-BRNS/DPS/188) for financing this research work. We are also thankful to IIT Mandi for providing lab facilities for conducting various experiments for the analysis of the samples. We thank the anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments which has shaped the manuscript in the better form.

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  1. School of Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Mandi, Kamand, Mandi, HP, 175005, India

    Shefali Bhardwaj & Dericks P. Shukla

  2. School of Basic Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Mandi, Mandi, HP, India

    Aditi Halder

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  1. Shefali Bhardwaj
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Bhardwaj, S., Shukla, D.P. & Halder, A. Spatial distribution of uranium and chemo-radiological assessment in Hamirpur district, Himachal Pradesh, India. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 324, 467–480 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-020-07088-7

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