Uranium standards in drinking water: An examination from scientific and socio-economic standpoints of India.
Environ Sci Pollut Res Int
; 31(35): 47461-47474, 2024 Jul.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-39007979
ABSTRACT
The detection of uranium in drinking water has ignited concerns among the public, regulators, and policymakers, particularly as around 1% of the 55,554 water samples in India have shown uranium levels surpassing the 60 µg/l guideline established by the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) based on radiological toxicity. Further, the Bureau of Indian Standard (BIS), has given a limit of 30 µg/l, which is derived from World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. Besides the chemical and radiological aspects associated with uranium, factors such as technological constraints in water purification, waste management, environmental factors, and socio-economic conditions significantly influence these guideline values, which are often overlooked. This manuscript explores the variations in approaches for establishing guideline values and highlights the uncertainties arising from dependence on various variables such as intake and usage patterns, inter- and intra-species distinctions, and epidemiological data. A critical analysis indicates that adherence to global guidelines may result in some undesirable environmental issues. By considering factors such as population dynamics, socio-economic conditions, and geological influences, we suggest that limit of 60 µg/l for uranium in drinking water is appropriate for India.
Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Água Potável
/
Urânio
Limite:
Humans
País/Região como assunto:
Asia
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Environ Sci Pollut Res Int
Assunto da revista:
SAUDE AMBIENTAL
/
TOXICOLOGIA
Ano de publicação:
2024
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Índia