Assessment of environmental radioactive elements in groundwater in parts of Nalgonda district, Andhra Pradesh, South India using scintillation detection methods

• Published in: Journal of radioanalytical and nuclear chemistry Vol. 302; no. 3; pp. 1391 - 1398
• Main Authors: Keesari, Tirumalesh, Mohokar, Hemant V., Sahoo, Bijay Kumar, Mallesh, G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.12.2014; Springer
• Subjects: Alkalinity; Analysis; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Diagnostic Radiology; Electrical conductivity; Electrical resistivity; Groundwater; Hadrons; Heavy Ions; Inorganic Chemistry; Methods; Nuclear Chemistry; Nuclear Physics; Physical Chemistry; Radioisotopes; Resistivity; Uranium; Water, Underground; India; India, Andhra Pradesh; Nalgonda; Uranium; Groundwater; Radon; Inter-elemental correlations; Liquid scintillation
• ISSN: 0236-5731; 1588-2780
• DOI: 10.1007/s10967-014-3566-3

The objective of this work was to determine the radioactive element concentrations in groundwater in parts of the Nalgonda district. Results indicate that 222 Rn activity is present in significant levels in deep groundwater compared to shallow groundwater and tank water. An increasing 222 Rn activity trend is noticed along the well depth while electrical conductivity, uranium, and alkalinity levels showed inverse trends. Environmental tritium data indicates modern recharge to groundwater. Inter-elemental correlations suggest that high dissolved uranium is associated with high alkalinity and high electrical conductivity groundwater. The study also infers recharge sources and mechanisms to shallow and deep groundwater.