0016-7622/2017-89-6-663/$ 1.00 © GEOL. SOC. INDIA JOURNAL GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF INDIA Vol.89, June 2017, pp.663-668 Assessment of Carcinogenic and Non-Carcinogenic Risk from Exposure to Uranium in Groundwater from Western Haryana, India Vikas Duggal 1* , Samriti Sharma 1 , Komal Saini 2 and Bikramjit Singh Bajwa 2 1 Department of Applied Sciences, Guru Kashi University, Talwandi Sabo-151302, Punjab, India 2 Department of Physics, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar-143005, India E-mail: vikasduggal86@gmail.com*; samritisharma2223@gmail.com; skomal2304@gmail.com; bsbajwa1@gmail.com ABSTRACT This study was carried out to assess the distribution of uranium in groundwater by using LED fluorimeter LF-2a and chemical and radiological risks associated with its consumption in Sirsa district, Haryana, India. Uranium concentration ranged between 0.93 and 290μg l -1 with an average value of 49 μg l -1 . About 44% of the groundwater samples had uranium concentration above the maximum contamination level of 30 μg l -1 prescribed by the World Health Organization and United States Environmental Protection Agency and 22% of the samples exceeded the permissible limit of 60 μgl -1 prescribed by the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, India. The average cancer morbidity and mortality risks are determined to be 1.10 × 10 -4 and 7.17 × 10 -5 respectively, indicating the negligible carcinogenic risk. Hazard quotient for 44% samples is greater than unity which indicates health risk due to chemical toxicity of uranium in groundwater. The associated age-dependent annual effective dose is estimated by taking the prescribed water intake values of different age groups. INTRODUCTION Groundwater is the major source of drinking in both rural and urban Haryana. Uranium prevails in the lithosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere and atmosphere with wide variation in concentrations since the inception of the earth (Sahoo et al. 2010; Duggal et al. 2016a). According to an estimate, drinking water and food contributes 85% and 15% of ingested uranium, respectively (Cothern and Lappenbusch, 1983). Uranium has dual effect on human health due to its radio- active and chemical properties. Chemical toxicity of uranium may cause damage to reproductive system, kidneys and liver (Singh et al. 2014; Duggal et al. 2016b). Several authors believe that the non- carcinogenic risk of uranium is more than its deleterious carcinogenic risk. To protect human health, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA 2011) and World Health Organization (WHO 2011) have developed guideline value of 30 μg l -1 and Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB 2004) has developed standard (60 μg l -1 ) for regulating the maximum contamination level of uranium in water. Few studies have investigated the occurrence of uranium in groundwater of Haryana. Garg et al. (2014) have studied uranium concentration in groundwater in Hisar city, Haryana and the results showed that the concentration of uranium was above the permissible limit. Singh et al. (2015) have determined the concentration of uranium in groundwater of Fatehabad district, Haryana and results confirmed that the groundwater is contaminated with uranium. The main objective of this investigation is to study the distribution of uranium in groundwater, to compute radiation doses for various age groups, and to assess carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks to humans due to intake of uranium through the ingestion of groundwater from Sirsa district, Haryana. MATERIALS AND METHODS Geology of the Study Area The Haryana state is located between 27°39' and 30°35' N latitudes and 74°28' and 77°36' E longitudes in north India. Figure 1 shows the geographic location of Sirsa district on the map of Haryana, as well as the location of the sampling sites in Sirsa district. The total human population of the Sirsa district is 13 lakh (2011 census), and geographical area of 4277 sq km. The Sirsa district has two types of soils viz. sierozem and desert soils. The district has both confined and unconfined aquifers. The unconfined aquifers occurs down to 60 m depth below groundwater in the district and principal aquifer material comprises fine to medium sand and sand mixed with kankar. Tubewells are constructed up to the depth of 40 to 100 m for drinking as well as for irrigation purpose. The major source of recharge to groundwater in the district is rainfall, seepage from canals, return seepage through irrigation and percolation from surface water bodies (Central Groundwater Board, 2013). The study region is bounded by Mansa, Bathinda and Muktsar districts of Punjab in the north, Hanumangarh and Sri Ganganagar districts of Rajasthan in the south and west, Hisar and Fatehabad districts of Haryana in the southeast and northeast respectively. Water Sampling and Physico-chemical Analysis A total of 63 water samples were collected from Sirsa district, Haryana. The sources of water comprise tube-wells, electric motors and hand-pumps. The sampling sites were selected in such a manner that the whole district has been covered.The position of each sampling site was determined by using a portable global positioning system (GPS). The water was left to run from the sources for about 5–10 min until fresh water comes from deep. Prior to collection, the groundwater samples were filtered using 0.45 μm Whatmann filter paper to remove suspended matter/sediments, acidified with nitric acid (HNO 3 ) for preservation, and then stored in pre-cleaned acid-washed polyethylene containers until analysis. Micro controller water analysis kit (NPC 362D) was used for the in situ measurement of electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), and pH in groundwater (Rathore, 2013). Analytical Procedure Uranium analysis in groundwater was carried out in the Environmental Radiation Research Laboratory of Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, India using LED fluorimeter LF-2a (Quantalase Enterprises Private Limited, Indore, India). 0.5 mL of 5% sodium