Study related to uranium concentration in drinking water

Source- This post on the Study related to uranium concentration in drinking water has been created based on the article “60 µg/l uranium in drinking water safe: Nuclear safety watchdog” published in “Indian Express” on 20 July 2024.

Recently, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) study concluded that uranium concentrations up to 60 µg/l in drinking water are safe, suggesting that the new stricter standard of 30 µg/l may be counterproductive.

BARC Study Findings:

1. The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) in India previously set the acceptable level of uranium concentration in drinking water at 60 µg/l.

2. In 2021, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) revised the limit to 30 µg/l, aligning with World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations.

3. A study by Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) scientists concludes that uranium concentrations up to 60 µg/l in drinking water are safe, questioning the necessity of the new BIS standard.

4. The study argues that the more stringent BIS standard of 30 µg/l could lead to unnecessary purification costs without significant health benefits.

5.  Citing WHO studies, the BARC researchers state that small concentrations of uranium in drinking water pose no significant health risks, including cancer.

6.  National standards for uranium in drinking water vary globally, with limits in Finland and Slovakia set at 100 µg/l and 350 µg/l respectively, and South Africa at 70 µg/l. Countries like Canada and Australia have lower limits of 20 µg/l and 15 µg/l, respectively.

BIS and Health Impact Studies

1.  The BARC scientists highlight that BIS did not conduct health impact studies before implementing the 30 µg/l limit, unlike other agencies such as the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which performed a cost-benefit analysis.

2. The EPA set the drinking water limit for uranium at 30 µg/l after determining that there is no significant difference in health effects between 20 µg/l, 30 µg/l, and 80 µg/l.

Recommendations and National Considerations

1. The BARC study emphasizes the need for country-specific standards considering local geological, socio-economic conditions, and population dynamics.

2. The researchers suggest that, in the absence of clear evidence of health risks at small concentrations, India should consider retaining the AERB limit of 60 µg/l.

3. The government has stated that uranium in drinking water is naturally occurring and not a result of mining activities.

Mapping Uranium Concentration

1. A comprehensive exercise by BARC researchers in collaboration with over 50 institutions across India showed that:

i) 94% of 55,554 samples had uranium concentrations below the BIS standard of 30 µg/l.

ii) 98% of samples were below the AERB standard of 60 µg/l.

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