URANIUM QUANTIFICATION IN GROUNDWATER AND HEALTH RISK FROM ITS INGESTION IN AND AROUND TIRUVANNAMALAI, TAMIL NADU, INDIA

The aim of this study is to assess the degree of contamination in drinking water sources around the holy mountain "Arunachala" in Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu. Drinking water samples from 20 different sites were collected, and their physio-chemical parameters, pH, electrical conductivity and total dissolved solvents were determined. An LED fluorimeter was used to determine the concentration of uranium in these samples. As consumption of contaminated drinking water involves both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk, excess cancer risk; life-time average daily dose; hazard quotient and annual effective dose were calculated for the samples. On comparing these values with their respective maximum permissible limits, it is found that water from the aquifers around the mountain is safe to consume.