Uranium studies in water samples belonging to Malwa region of Punjab, using track etching technique

The fission track registration technique was used for the analysis of uranium concentration in water samples. A known volume of the water (one drop) was dropped on the lexan sample. All the samples were enclosed in an aluminum capsule and irradiated with thermal neutrons in the reactor at Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, India with a thermal neutron fluence of about 2×10152×1015 (nvt). Uranium content in water samples of the study area ranges from 5.41 to 43.39μgl-1. The values of uranium concentration in water samples of these areas are lower than those reported for water samples of Himachal Pradesh, India. The aim of the present investigations is to explore the possibility of uranium prospection and health risk assessments in areas of Malwa region of Punjab.