Reputed News papers like Times of India should not publish stories of this kind which is definitely “misinformation” without any specific scientific evidence.
Uranium is a naturally occurring element and is present in the rock to the extent of about 4 part per million. In trace levels, uranium is also present in ground water sources. The compounds of uranium differ in their solubility. Some compounds such as chloride, phosphates, carbonates and nitrates are soluble and compounds like oxides are insoluble in water. Uranium is a radioactive element. Because of very long half life, the specific activity, i.e., radioactivity per gram is very low.
Hexavalent uranium compounds with carbonates and phosphates are most stable compounds and forms soluble compounds with water and hence are transported through soil to some distances. If there is any source of uranium in nearby areas, it is possible that soluble uranium compounds can get into ground water sources and get ingested in the body. A very small fraction of the ingested uranium gets metabolized in the body and gets deposited in bone and kidney.
Uranium is used in nuclear reactors as fuel. The fuel production facilities, such as mines, uranium concentration and purification plants discharge very small amount of uranium in well controlled and regulated manner into the environment.
It is highly improbable that the deformation or any genetic effects occurring due to the intake of uranium. Radiation is categorized as a weak mutagen. The probability of uranium causing the health effect described in the story is almost zero. However, there is a good possibility of chemical entities such as fluorides, and heavy metals such as lead, etc pollute ground water to a great extent. It is also well known that chemical pollutants cause mutation of the body cells to a much greater extent which ultimately may manifest as genetic disorder in exposed population.
Hence, it is important that complete chemical analysis of the water samples be done before coming out with any premature conclusion which will adversely influence public opinion on nuclear applications
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