Radon is found to be 50 to 100 times the permissible limit of 11.1 Bq per litre as per initial studies by the researchers . This finding has drawn increased attention to the study of radon in drinking water .
As radon comes naturally from uranium , the researchers realised uranium content could be high too . They found high content of uranium in groundwater , in some part in the outskirts of Bengaluru , including Chikkaballapur , Kolar , Chintamani and Pavagada .
Researchers said the level of uranium is found to be up to 300 micrograms per litre in the water against the permissible limit of 60 micrograms per litre , in some parts of city outskirts . In Chikkaballapur , Kolar and Chintamani it ranges from 5000-6000 micrograms per litre . “ The measure of radon is being studied as it is a matter of concern ,” the reaearcher said .
Radon in the air is not a major matter of concern if the area is well-ventilated . It should not accumulate indoors , said Prof R Srinivasan , from Divecha Centre for Climate Change ( DCCC ), IISc . He was speaking to The New Indian Express on the sidelines of the first day of the two-daylong training programme .
Radon in air , and uranium in water can cause cancer of lungs and kidneys .
The presence of radon in air and water leads to damage of lung tissues , threatening cancer of the lungs while the presence of uranium affects the urinary tract leading to kidney cancer .
No further studies on radon : Officials
Dr . H . Paramesh , World Health Organization Consultant and Professor at DCCC also confirmed that initial studies have found uranium in some places at Chikkaballapur to be 1000 , against the permitted levels of 30-60 micrograms per litre .
Interestingly while some officials at Groundwater Board , now retired had studied the presence of Radon in water , present working officials admitted that they have not taken up further studies on it .
Srinivasan said attention was also being paid on how to dispose off waste water after treatment as it also has high content of uranium .
He said studies on the wastewater of reverse osmosis ( RO ) units have found high content of Uranium and has been a matter of concern .
Researchers also said that uranium comes from minerals like pitchblende , zircon , monazite among others in the rocks of the region .
Source : https :// www . newindianexpress . com / states / karnataka / 2023 / feb / 04 / bengaluru‐outskirts‐have‐high‐levels‐ofradioactive‐radon‐in‐groundwater‐2544203 . html
1 Becquerel = 27.027027027027 Picocurie ∴ 1 Picocurie = 0.037 Becquerel Source : https :// www . unitsconverters . com / en / Picocurie‐To‐Becquerel / Unittounit‐3960‐3949