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Study of uranium toxicity using low-background gamma-ray spectrometry

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Abstract

The natural activity of 238U, 232Th and 40K present in soil, fertilizer and palaeosols besides animal fossils was determined using low background gamma ray spectrometry. The highest uranium activity level were found in animal fossils of geogenic origin compared to palaeosols, soils and fertilizers, a result of post-mortem uranium assimilation in these fossils via diagenetic processes. Hence, geogenic mobilization is likely a major cause of elevated uranium levels in Malwa region of Punjab, also known for higher than normal cancer incidence.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Prof. M. Caffee, Director, Purdue Rare Isotope Measurement (PRIME) Laboratory, Purdue University, USA and Prof. S. Good, Biological and Ecological Engineering Department, Oregon State University, USA for their valuable suggestions to obtain more meaningful information from the data collected. Alok Srivastava is thankful to Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Germany for providing fund to carry part of the research work in Aachen University of Applied Sciences, Juelich, Germany. Vikash Chahar is grateful to UGC for Junior Research Fellowship. Rajeev Patnaik was supported by MOES project (MoES/P.O. (Geoscience)/46/2015). The gamma ray spectrometric experimental facility provided through UGC-CAS funding to Department of Chemistry, Panjab University, Chandigarh used for initial screening of the samples is also thankfully acknowledged. The support from Department of Atomic Energy through TULIP program to SINP is also gratefully acknowledged. N. Naskar is thankful to UGC for providing Research Fellowship. The contribution of Mr. S. Mohr from Harz National Park, Goslar, Germany in the form of drawing the figures is also gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chemistry Department, Centre for Advance Studies, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160014, India

    A. Srivastava, V. Chahar & V. Sharma

  2. Institute of Bio- and Geosciences, IBG-3 Agrosphere, Forschungzentrum Juelich, 52425, Jülich, Germany

    Y. Sun & R. Bol

  3. Geo Park Harz, Braunschweiger Land, Ostfalen Network, Grummetwiese 16, 38640, Goslar, Germany

    F. Knolle

  4. Department of life Sciences, Technical University of Braunschweig, Pockelsstrasse 14, 38106, Brunswick, Germany

    E. Schnug

  5. Nuclear Science Division, Aachen University of Applied Sciences, Heinrich-Mussmann Strasse-1, 52428, Jülich, Germany

    F. Hoyler

  6. Department of Environmental Science, University of Calcutta, 35 Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata, 700019, India

    N. Naskar & S. Lahiri

  7. Chemical Sciences Division, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, 1/AF Bidhannagar, Kolkata, 700064, India

    N. Naskar & S. Lahiri

  8. Geology Department, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160014, India

    R. Patnaik

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  1. A. Srivastava
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  2. V. Chahar
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  3. V. Sharma
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  4. Y. Sun
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  5. R. Bol
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  6. F. Knolle
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  7. E. Schnug
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  8. F. Hoyler
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  9. N. Naskar
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  10. S. Lahiri
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  11. R. Patnaik
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Correspondence to A. Srivastava.

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Srivastava, A., Chahar, V., Sharma, V. et al. Study of uranium toxicity using low-background gamma-ray spectrometry. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 314, 1367–1373 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-017-5466-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-017-5466-9

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