HYDERABAD | Dec 05, 2016: The quality of water in uranium-rich Tummalapalle and the surrounding villages in Kadapa has deteriorated with high levels of heavy and trace metals.

Researchers suggest that the state government should immediately initiate remedial measures to prevent further deterioration of the environment. Tummalapalle hosts one of the largest uranium reserves in the world. The quality of uranium obtained from Tummalapalle mines is also rated as high. The reserves are sufficient to meet the energy needs of the country for many decades. Incidentally, it is the only operational uranium mine of the Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) in south India. Researchers have found that wind and rain are responsible for the spread of the contamination from the mining area to other localities in the region.

The quality of water and soil in the region has suffered heavily over the years due to geological and human reasons. While little can be done with regard to geological reasons, further deterioration of soil and water can be achieved through control of anthropogenic activities. Researchers from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University-Anantapur, and its affiliated JNTUA College of Engineering at Pulivendula, analysed samples of water and soil collected from Mabbuchintalapalle, Tummalapalle, Rajakuntapalle, Bhomaiahgaripalle and V Kota villages to find out the extent of deterioration. They detected heavy trace metals like barium, cobalt, chromium, copper, molybdenum, nickel, lead, rubidium, strontium, vanadium, yttrium, zinc and zirconium.

Only nickel, strontium, zinc, zirconium and rubidium were within the permissible limit, while other elements crossed the maximum limit. "The increased levels of barium, arsenic, cobalt, chromium, copper, molybdenum, lead, vanadium and yttrium are a major concern for the suitability in agricultural and other land management practices," researchers said, warning that they may enter the food chain. Heavy metals if consumed in large quantities may lead to severe health issues, including cancers, respiratory and kidney complications. The study was published in the recent issue of International Journal of Advanced Research. One of the researchers, Dr K Aruna, told TOI that the problem can be addressed through a series of measures, including regular monitoring of water and soil quality and plantation of trees that are capable of picking up the contaminants through a process called bioremediation and phytoremediation.

(Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/)