“A STUDY ON THE STATISTICAL ESTIMATION OF URANIUM ION IN GROUNDWATER OF CUDDALORE DISTRICT, TAMILNADU, INDIA”

Paramaguru P *1 . , Anandhan P 2 . , Chidambaram S 3 . Nepolian M 1 .and Devaraj N 1 . 1. Research Scholar, Department of Earth sciences, Annamalai University, Tamilnadu, India. 2. Assistant Professor, Department of Earth sciences, Annamalai University, Tamilnadu, India. 3. Professor, Department of Earth sciences, Annamalai University, Tamilnadu, India. ...................................................................................................................... Manuscript Info Abstract ......................... ........................................................................ Manuscript History

The present study aim to examine mapping of uranium distribution in the Cuddalore district, Tamil Nadu, India. Uranium is a relatively abundant element with the highest atomic number of all naturally occurring elements. The occurrences of groundwater are identified porous formation and in fractured and the weathered hard rock aquifer matrix. The geology of the district underline by different range of age from oldest Archean rocks to recent sediments. The study area occupy in 3,678 Sq.km. Totally 93 groundwater samples were collected during Pre-Monsoon, 2015. The collected samples were analyzed for major cations and anions in standard scientific manner. U was analyzed by using laser fluorimeter. The uranium concentration in the groundwater of this region ranges from 0.1 ppb to 24.67 ppb with an average of 1.82 ppb. The analysis results shows the following order of dominance of ion Cl ->H 4 SiO 4 >HCO 3 ->NO 3 -> Na + > Ca 2+ > Mg 2+ >K + >SO 4 -> F -> PO 4 -. It is inferred that most of the samples are fresh to slightly saline in nature. The spatial interpolation maps were prepared for demarcating the Uranium enriched region. Thus the regions with higher "U" concentration were delineated and the process responsible for the higher U was determined by statistical analysis.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………….... Introduction:-
The groundwater chemistry is concern with a global perspective in groundwater Scenario. The hydrogeological characteristics and geochemicalassessment of the basin has been discussed by (Anandan et al.2010a, b, ;Ravi Kumar et al. 2010;Prasannaet al.2011). In this, Coastal aquifers constitute an important source of clean water supply, but are frequently faced with the problem of saltwater intrusion (Lenin et al., 2008). Uranium naturally occurs in three isotopic forms in soil, water, plants, animals and human beings. U-238 and U-235 are the parent nuclides of two independent decay series, while U-234 is a decay product of the U-238 series (Balvinder Singh et al., 2014). Uranium concentration in groundwater depends on several factors including lithological, geomorphologic and other geological conditions of the area (Sridhar-Babu MN, 2008). Uranium estimation of water systems of India has been reported by some authors likely Singh et al., 1984Singh et al., , 1995Singh et al., , 2001Singh et al., , 2002Singh et al., , 2008Ramola et al., 1988;Sarin et al., 1992). Most of the uranium (upto 100 ppb) occurrences in groundwater in India are around the mining regions, uraniferrous conglomerates and around granitic intrusions. In Statistical methods use statistics to determine associations between spatial variables and actual occurrence of pollutants in the groundwater. Their ISSN: 2320-5407 Int. J. Adv. Res. 5(1), 2921-2929 2922 limitations include insufficient water quality observations, data accuracy, and careful selection of spatial variables (Babiker et al. 2005).The estimation of uranium in water may be significant for th e hydrogeochemical prospection and for health risk assessments. This study mainly focuson thespatial distribution of uranium and its behavior of groundwater, moreover an evaluate the geochemical process in the study area.
Description of the study area:-Study Area:-The area chosen for study in Cuddalore district, which falls in between South of the Ponnaiyar river and North of the Vellar River. It covers an area about 3,678 Sq.km, and lies between 15 0 5" and 12 0 35"N, 78 0 38" and 80 0 00" E it falls in Survey of India Map No: 56M/10, 14, 58M/11 and 15. (Fig1). The Significant role for East of Pichavaram Mangroves; south of Cuddalore port, SIPCOT Industries, followed by Colereon River flowing is there. Major part of the study area is devoted to agricultural activities, which include paddy, sugarcane, and groundnut and gingili cultivation. The geological reserves are Lignite, Limestone, White clay materials. In other important of Forest the total areas covered under the woodland in the district are 4171 lifts.  The geology of the area plays a significant role for assessing groundwater potential zone of the region. This district underline by different range of age from oldest Archean rocks to recent sediments. Tertiary and quaternary sedimentary rocks mainly make up the study area (Fig 2).The litho units represents mostly cover by Clay and Clay Sandstone in sedimentary formations and other than expose clay with lenses of limestone bands and bottom layer of coarse s.st with mottled clay with lignite, then small portion of cover by massive rock of Charnokite formation.

Materials and Methods:-
In total 93 samples of groundwater were taken into consideration collected from the study area pre-monsoon 2015.Samples were collected using polythene bottles washed with clear acid and standard procedures were used for analysis. The parameter, such as Temperature, pH, EC (Electrical Conductivity) and TDS (Total Dissolved Solids were analyzed in Thermo Orion ion electrode probe Portable kit) were measured in the field. Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ , HCO 3 -Cl -, were analyzed in titrimetric Methods procedure adapting by (Ramesh, R.., Anbu, M.1996). SO 4-

2-
, PO 4 -, H 4 SiO 4, and NO 3 were determined by using UV Spectrophotometer HACH 6000 Instrument. The analytical precision for the measurements of ions was determined by calculating the ionic balance error, which is generally within ±5 %. The fluoride ions were analyzed in Thermo Orion ion electrode (F).The Na and K were analyzed in Flame photometer (Elico CL 378). The maps were prepared by Map info professional 8.5 and piper plot done by Aquachem4.0 . Calculation & graphical representations were done by a computer program WATCLAST in C++ .

Groundwater chemistry:-pH:-
The chemistry of groundwater samples studied about pH range between lowest for 5.59 maximum of 8.7 and with an average of 7.05 observed in the study area. A Water with a pH > 8.5 could indicate that the water is hard and acidic to alkaline in nature. The Hardness of the water results in aesthetic issues.

EC:-
The Electrical conductivity (EC) values range from 95.7µs/cm to 4890 µs/cm at 25 o C, averaging of about 1253µs/cm. The EC values reported in channels near location 27 are high & inconsistent because of industrial discharge and urban waste disposition which results in leaching and accumulation of chemicals.

TDS:-
The total dissolved Solids were observed in maximum of 2410 ppm to 50.1 ppm in lowest with an average of 615 ppm in the study area. The cuddalore coastal region is generally occupied with alluvium soil. The study area is mostly covered by alluvial soil, because they having groundwater contain in very shallow depth. Some physical disturbance has been attempt it influence mining activities and under construction process, it cause the groundwater quality is suffered.

Spatial Estimation of Uranium:-
In this technique, on excitation of uranium complexes with UV light of 337.1 nm wavelength, the complexes emit green fluorescence that is measured by Photo Multiplier Tubes (PMT). Uranium concentration in aqueous samples is given by the measurement of fluorescence. The minimum detection limit (MDL) of the instrumentwas 0.2 lg L-1. To avoid error due to different uranium complexes sodium pyrophosphate reagent wasused to convert various complexes into single form having same fluorescence yield (Sahoo SK, 2009).The spatial contribution of uranium is observed in higher concentration of U is>3.63 ppb, minimum of 1.35 ppb with an average of 2.50 to 3.60 ppb. The majority of the samples fall in South side and Eastern part and rest of them is Western part of study area (Fig 3). In specifically, indicate that maximum range of U is noted in the South margin and South west and north side is falls in moderate range and minimum concentration noted in towards East and small amount of western part. The obtained values and falling locations were identified in the contamination places and its describing the nature of geochemical behavior of groundwater. In specifically, indicate that maximum range of U is noted in the South margin and South west and north side is falls in moderate range and minimum concentration noted in towards East and small amount of western part. The obtained values and falling locations were identified in the contamination places and its describing the in order to classify their saturation of geochemical contribution in the groundwater.

Statistical Analysis:-Correlation matrix:-
The correlation matrix for groundwater samples collected from Cuddalore region is shown in (

Results and Discussion:-
The groundwater vulnerability assessment is a critical point in decision-making processes, aiming to land use and resource management optimization. Therefore, it is imperative the adoption of preventive measures as well as accurate monitoring processes. Here, we discuss about the spatial distribution of these factors will permit the identification of potential pollution sources, taking into account the primary activities in the subject area: agriculture, mining, industrial or urban activities. Groundwater is unsuitable for domestic use in 2 % of this area based on the limit of 60 ppb prescribed by the AERB (Atomic Energy Regulatory Board of India). The reported that the concentration of uranium was relatively higherthan the USEPA drinking water limit of 30 ppb.
The concentration of uranium in groundwater greatly depends on the composition of the rocks in the aquifer. WHO, 2004 had recommended 15 ppb of uranium in drinking water as safe limit. The (table1.3) shows that to understand the variability of uranium and also we can estimate the percentage of contaminate into the study area. Some anthropogenic activities like mining, milling, and nuclear fuel processing add uranium to various environmental components (EPA (2009). These values represent mostly covered 0.1ppb to 1.0 ppb of 62 samples in 66.7 % were found very mild rate of pollution. Then 1 ppb to 2 ppb of 11.8 % 11 samples denotes small range of pollution, and remaining, 5 samples represents 2ppb to 3ppb 5.40 %, 3ppb to 4 ppb of 4 samples falls in 4.30% , and others 4ppb to 5 ppb in 3 samples are covers 3.22% & 5ppb to 7ppb of 2.15% in 2 samples were found and In such that we can infer the very highest range of uranium concentration is observed that following range: 9ppb to 1.0 ppb 1.07 % of 1 sample and 2.15 % sample are fall in > 10 ppb range of concentration in the study area (table 1.4). The source of u has been carried the mining activity and some chemical solvents are dissolves in surface water as well as groundwater due can possible to have the uranium or uranyl particle in that water system. So these proportions are demarcating the variability of geochemical contribution of uranium in the present groundwater.

Percentage of "U "Concentration
Percentage of "U "

Conclusion:-
The present study is conclude that majority of the samples were indicatesthe not affected in uranium contaminant, only few samples were found in higher concentration. Then, it is calculating by their spatial volume of uranium content. The obtained results shows the following order of dominance of ion Cl ->H 4 SiO 4 >HCO 3 -> NO 3 -> Na + >Ca 2+ >Mg 2+ >K + >SO 4 -> F ->PO 4 -. It is inferred that most of the samples are fresh to slightly saline in nature. The Uranium spatialmap was studied to estimate the volume and their saturation points were found. These distributions of samples are covered in Majority samples were fall in South side and Eastern part and rest of them is Western part of study area. In which, overall water geochemistry results reflects to support the human utility. The graphical value indicates the each location proportion of uranium ionindividual rating ofstudy status. The area denotes the visual observation of higher range of 66.70% of samples in fall <1.0 ppb, medium level of 1-2 ppb in 11.82 % , rest of