Uranium Contamination in Delhi

Context: New groundwater testing by the Central Ground Water Board shows rising uranium levels in Delhi, with 13–15% of samples showing elevated contamination.

About Uranium Contamination in Delhi:

What it is?

• Uranium contamination refers to the presence of uranium— a naturally occurring radioactive heavy metal— in groundwater at levels above permissible limits for safe drinking water.

Permissible limit of uranium in drinking water is:

• World Health Organization (WHO) guideline 30 micrograms per litre (µg/L) Equivalent to 03 milligrams per litre (mg/L).

• 30 micrograms per litre (µg/L)

• Equivalent to 03 milligrams per litre (mg/L).

• BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) – IS 10500:2012 (Revised) India now follows the same benchmark: Acceptable limit = 0.03 mg/L (30 µg/L)

• India now follows the same benchmark:

• Acceptable limit = 0.03 mg/L (30 µg/L)

Causes of Rising Uranium in Groundwater:

• Agricultural inputs: Excessive use of phosphate fertilisers, which contain trace uranium, gradually leaches into soil and aquifers.

• Industrial and anthropogenic sources: Industrial waste and effluents may release uranium and heavy metals into surrounding groundwater systems.

• Natural geological factors: Aquifers containing uranium-bearing rocks release the metal through rock–water interactions, especially in deep, over-extracted groundwater zones.

Implications for Health, Environment and Policy:

• Health Impacts:

• Kidney damage and impaired renal function with long-term ingestion. Increased risk of kidney and urinary tract cancers. Uranium may bind with bone tissue, affecting long-term bone health.

• Kidney damage and impaired renal function with long-term ingestion.

• Increased risk of kidney and urinary tract cancers.

• Uranium may bind with bone tissue, affecting long-term bone health.

• Environmental Implications:

• Persistent contamination reduces aquifer quality, straining already limited freshwater resources. Can trigger cumulative pollution cycles alongside nitrate and fluoride contamination detected in the same survey.

• Persistent contamination reduces aquifer quality, straining already limited freshwater resources.

• Can trigger cumulative pollution cycles alongside nitrate and fluoride contamination detected in the same survey.

Relevance in UPSC Exam Syllabus:

• GS Paper 1 – Geography

• Groundwater resources, aquifer systems, water scarcity, water pollution trends in India.

• GS Paper 2 – Governance & Social Justice

• Public health governance, urban service delivery, environmental regulations, role of public institutions (CGWB, DJB). Citizen rights and state responsibility in ensuring safe drinking water.

• Public health governance, urban service delivery, environmental regulations, role of public institutions (CGWB, DJB).

• Citizen rights and state responsibility in ensuring safe drinking water.

• GS Paper 3 – Environment, Ecology & Disaster Management

• Heavy metal contamination, environmental health hazards, pollution control, sustainable agriculture. Water security, groundwater depletion, climate-linked stress on water quality.

• Heavy metal contamination, environmental health hazards, pollution control, sustainable agriculture.

• Water security, groundwater depletion, climate-linked stress on water quality.