Kumar, V. orcid.org/0000-0002-8825-3517, Maity, A., Kumar, A. et al. (4 more authors) (2023) Critical review on uranium and arsenic content and their chemical mobilization in groundwater: A case study of the Malwa region Punjab, India. Science of The Total Environment, 885. 163885. ISSN 0048-9697
Abstract
The presence of pollutants like uranium and arsenic in the groundwater can have a terrible impact on people's health (both radiologically and toxicologically) and their economic conditions. Their infiltration into groundwater can occur through geochemical reactions, natural mineral deposits, mining and ore processing. Governments and scientists are working to address these issues, and significant progress has been achieved, but it's challenging to deal with and mitigate without adequately understanding the different chemical processes and the mobilization mechanism of these hazardous chemicals. Most of the articles and reviews have focused on the particular form of contaminants and specific sources of pollution, such as fertilizers. However, no literature report exists explaining why particular forms appear and the possible basis of their chemical origins. Hence, in this review, we tried to answer the various questions by devising a hypothetical model and chemical schematic flowcharts for the chemical mobilization of arsenic and uranium in groundwater. An effort has been made to explain how chemical seepage and excessive groundwater use resulted in the change in aquifers' chemistry, as evidenced by their physicochemical parameters and heavy metal analysis. Many technological advancements have taken place to mitigate these issues. Still, in low-middle-income countries, especially in the Malwa region of Punjab, also known as Punjab's cancer belt, paying a high amount for installing and maintaining these technologies is an unviable option. In addition to working to improve people's access to sanitary facilities and clean water to drink, the policy-level intervention would focus on increasing community awareness and continued research on developing better and more economical technologies. Our designed model/chemical flowcharts will help policymakers and researchers better understand the problems and alleviate their effects. Moreover, these models can be utilized in other parts of the globe where similar questions exist. This article emphasises the value of understanding the intricate issue of groundwater management through a multidisciplinary and interdepartmental approach.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2023 Elsevier. This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/. This is an author produced version of an article published in Science of the Total Environment. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. |
Keywords: | Groundwater; Uranium; Arsenic; Hydrogeochemistry; Chemical mobilization |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Environment (Leeds) > School of Geography (Leeds) > River Basin Processes & Management (Leeds) The University of Leeds > Faculty of Engineering & Physical Sciences (Leeds) > School of Chemistry (Leeds) > Organic Chemistry (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 05 Apr 2024 13:09 |
Last Modified: | 03 May 2024 00:13 |
Published Version: | https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/... |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Elsevier |
Identification Number: | 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163885 |
Related URLs: | |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:211198 |
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Licence: CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0