Letter to HERA's Editor Concerning the Article “Risk Assessment for Natural Uranium in Subsurface Water of Punjab State, India” (Kumar et al. 2011a)

Comments on Large-Scale Uranium Contamination of Groundwater Resources in India

“…A fluoride content of >1.5 ppm has been reported in this part of country. Calcium fluoride is a very good co-precipitant of uranium. , I have raised such issues through comments or Letter to the Editor articles on publications related to uranium in water in Punjab, India, and requested that authors further document the reliability of their findings. − In my opinion, the actual uranium content in such water samples (containing fluoride) should not be abnormally very high. The presence of >1.5 mg/L fluoride in water samples effects the variation in uranium content in water samples (or if not properly acidified for preservation, pH <1) to a greater extent with respect to the time interval between sample collection and analysis.…”

Challenges for reliable analysis of uranium in natural waters using laser-induced fluorimetry/LED-fluorimetry in the presence of fluoride and diverse humic substances in hot arid regions and future advances – review

“…In truth, the reliability of the analytical results depends on strict adherence to the various steps of the validated method and not on the laser fluorimetric technique or the laboratory or the person performing the test. 11–21…”

Application of a differential technique in laser-induced fluorimetry/pulsed LED-fluorimetry: simple and reliable analysis of uranium raw materials in the nuclear fuel cycle – a mini-review

“…Laser-induced fluorimetry/pulsed LED-fluorimetry is a well-documented, highly sensitive, and versatile technique for the determination of uranium in water samples at μg L −1 levels, 4,8 and is at the same time more challenging due to a wide variety of water samples differing in total dissolved salts including saline water and fluoride content as well as due to the practical impossibility of preserving natural water samples. 9–18 In contrast, mineralised rock sample solutions are easier to analyse through the application of a differential technique in laser-induced fluorimetry/pulsed LED-fluorimetry for their uranium content due to their easy preservation over a period of time/absence of instability problems.…”

“…Laser-induced uorimetry/pulsed LED-uorimetry is a welldocumented, highly sensitive, and versatile technique for the determination of uranium in water samples at mg L −1 levels, 4,8 and is at the same time more challenging due to a wide variety of water samples differing in total dissolved salts including saline water and uoride content as well as due to the practical impossibility of preserving natural water samples. [9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18] In Dr D. P. S. Rathore, FICS, FRSC, M-ACS, IUPAC-Affiliate Member, PhD Chemistry (1981), A.M.U., Aligarh, India, is Former Scien-tic Officer-G at the Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research, Department of Atomic Energy, India. Dr Rathore has served in different capacities for 34 years, as Incharge, in different regional chemical laboratories, as Coordinator, mobile geochemical laboratories in various parts of the country and was involved in providing the quick feedback of analytical data support for the various ongoing uranium exploration projects of his directorate.…”