Uranium distribution in groundwater and assessment of age dependent radiation dose in Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Pathankot districts of Punjab, India.

A comprehensive study of seasonal variation of uranium distribution in groundwater of Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Pathankot districts of Punjab, India and assessment of associated radiological risks, chemical risks and effective radiation dose for different age groups, was conducted to determine its health impact on humans residing in these regions. Physicochemical parameters such as pH, EC, TDS, total hardness and contents of various anions such as carbonates/bicarbonates, chlorides, fluorides, nitrates, sulphates and phosphates in groundwater were also analysed to determine correlation between groundwater chemistry and uranium distribution. The average values of uranium concentration in ground water samples of Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Pathankot districts were found to be 8.