A study was done to evaluate the ingestion dose due to
uranium in drinking water. The area of study is the twin cities of
Hyderabad and Secunderabad, India. The uranium concentration in
water samples was analysed by laser-induced fluorimetry. The associated
age-dependent radiation dose was estimated by taking the prescribed
water intake values and dose conversion factors for different age
groups. The concentration of uranium varies from below the detection
limit (detection limit = 0.20 μg.L–1) to 2.50 ± 0.18
μg.L–1, with a geometric mean of 0.67 μg.L–1 in
tap water, whereas in groundwater the range is 0.60 ± 0.05 to 82
± 7.1 μg.L–1 with a geometric mean of 10.07 μg.L–1.
The annual ingestion dose by the drinking water pathway due to uranium
in tap water for various age groups was found to vary from 0.23
to 6.35 μSv.y–1 with an average of 1.08 μSv.y–1.
The ingestion dose due to uranium in tap water is 15 times lower
than that of groundwater consumption.