ORALS

SESSION: PhysicsMonAM-R4	Virk International Symposium (Intl Symp on Physics, Technology & Interdisciplinary Research for Sustainable Development)
Mon. 28 Nov. 2022 / Room: Arcadia 3
Session Chairs: Gurtej Sandhu; Session Monitor: TBA

11:30: [PhysicsMonAM01] OS Plenary
Groundwater Contamination due to Uranium and Heavy Metals and its Mitigation for Sustainable Development of Punjab State, India
Hardev Singh Virk¹ ; ¹SGGS World University Fatehgarh Sahib, SURREY, India;
Paper Id: 279 [Abstract]

Punjab State is facing a crisis situation due to high levels of uranium (U) and heavy metals in groundwater of Punjab [1-4]. Anomalous values of Uranium are reported in the nine districts of Malwa region of Punjab with U content higher than the WHO safe limit for drinking water. The origin of these anomalies is attributed to geogenic sources [5]. High values of Arsenic (As) and Selenium (Se) are reported in the Majha and Doaba belts of Punjab, respectively. Groundwater quality has deteriorated due to presence of other heavy metals, such as iron, nickel, cadmium, chromium, aluminium, and lead, and by the presence of anomalous values of basic parameters, such as TDS (total dissolved salts), calcium, magnesium, sulphate, nitrate, chloride and fluoride in certain other areas of Punjab. Health hazard effects of Uranium and other heavy metals are reported in our study [3, 4]. For sustainable development of Punjab State, mitigation measures have been proposed to get rid of Uranium and heavy metals like Arsenic and Iron. Groundwater contamination problem has been tackled under the World Bank funded project since 2007. The various measures undertaken to supply potable water are RO system, Canal water and AMRIT Technology for mitigation of Arsenic and Iron in the Majha belt.

References:
[1] H.S. Virk, Research & Reviews: A Journal of Toxicology. 7(2) (2017) 6–11.
[2] H.S. Virk, Research & Reviews: A Journal of Toxicology. 7(3) (2017) 27–33.
[3] H.S. Virk, Research & Reviews: A Journal of Toxicology. 9(3) (2019) 19-28.
[4] H.S. Virk, Research & Reviews: A Journal of Toxicology. 10(1) (2020) 1–7.
[5] P.K. Sahoo, H.S. Virk, M.A. Powell, R. Kumar, J.K. Pattanaik, G. Salomão, S. Mittal, R.P. Tiwari, Sci. Total Environ. (Submitted).

SESSION: PhysicsMonPM3-R4	Virk International Symposium (Intl Symp on Physics, Technology & Interdisciplinary Research for Sustainable Development)
Mon. 28 Nov. 2022 / Room: Arcadia 3
Session Chairs: Hardev Singh Virk; Session Monitor: TBA

17:50: [PhysicsMonPM313] OL
Distribution of uranium and fluoride and their relationship with hydrogeochemical processes in groundwater of Muktsar, Punjab, India
Prafulla Kumar Sahoo¹ ; Hardev Singh Virk² ; Umakant Chaudhari³ ; ¹1Department of Environmental Science and Technology, Central University of Punjab, V.P.O. Ghudda, 151401 Bathinda, India, Punjab, India; ²SGGS World University Fatehgarh Sahib, SURREY, India; ³Central University of Punjab, V.P.O. Ghudda, 151401 Bathinda, India, Punjab, India;
Paper Id: 533 [Abstract]

Muktsar district of southwest Punjab (India) has gained significant attention due to elevated levels of different groundwater contaminants such as fluoride and uranium. A total of 38 groundwater samples were collected in 2022 and analyzed for physico-chemical parameters, major cations and anions and potentially toxic elements (PTEs), especially fluoride (F-) and uranium (U). Fluoride concentration ranged from 0.3 to 9.8 mg/L, with 60 % of samples exceeded the World Health Organization (WHO) limit (1.5 mg/L), and U ranges from 14.9 to 456.6 µg/L, with 95% samples exceeded the WHO limit (30 µg/L). Sodium and Mg are major cations whereas sulfate (SO42-), and chloride (Cl-) are major anions in this area. Spearman Correlation analysis showed a strong positive correlation of U with F-, TDS, and bicarbonate (HCO3-) concentration in groundwater. Source identification of PTEs in groundwater was identified by applying multivariate statistical analysis such as principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis (CA). This indicates that groundwater contamination of U and F- in this region is due to geogenic as well anthropogenic sources. Elevated level of this contamination along with high salinity makes this groundwater unfit for drinking and agriculture purpose.

SESSION: PhysicsWedPM2-R7	Virk International Symposium (Intl Symp on Physics, Technology & Interdisciplinary Research for Sustainable Development)
Wed. 30 Nov. 2022 / Room: Andaman 2
Session Chairs: TBA Session Monitor: TBA

15:55: [PhysicsWedPM209] OS
EXPECTED DAMAGES DUE TO GCR ON SPACE ELECTRONICS AND SPACESHIP MATERIALS BY ETCHED NUCLEAR TRACKS SHAPE
Laszlo Sajo Bohus¹ ; Hardev Singh Virk² ; ¹Universidad Simon Bolivar, Nuclear Lab, Caracas, Venezuela; ²SGGS World University Fatehgarh Sahib, SURREY, India;
Paper Id: 242 [Abstract]

Matter in the interplanetary missions is exposed to Galactic Cosmic Rays (GCR) enhanced by intermittent solar flare energetic matter. These impinging GCR on spaceship materials as well as astronaut’s body, leave a variable damaged volume. That can be indirectly visualized by PADC detectors. Passive matter has been employed advantageously for space dosimetry; in that, etched nuclear tracks provide information on the LET value, mass and energy of impinging radiation. Here we suggest employing the etched nuclear tracks observed on the PADC detector surface, to predict damages in space matter. Information is obtained from track´s geometrical shape such as pit aperture, track length, direction, and nuclear reaction product as well as the impinging beam intensity, energy and particle mass. The suggested method provides insight of permanent or temporal atomic and molecular alteration in matter structure, space electronics including quantum computing expected failure rate.

References:
[1] J. A. Mireles, A. Lopez, L. Sajo-Bohus and M. Castro-Colin. GEANT4 dose estimations of solar protons: Al and PMMA-Bi2O3 shielding for space exploration. In press; Revista Mexicana de Física, 2023

[2] Martínez-Ovalle, S. A., Garcia-Rodriguez, A. M., Vega-Carrillo, H. R., Sandoval-Garzon, M. A., Jaramillo Garzón, W., and Sajo-Bohus, L. (2020). Shielding For Transporting An 241am-Be Source For Industrial Applications. Applied Radiation and Isotopes, 109175. doi:10.1016/j.apradiso.2020.109175.

[3] S. Kodaira, M. Naito, Y. Uchihori, H. Hashimoto, H. Yano, and A. Yamagishi. Space radiation Dosimetry at the Exposure Facility of the ISS for Tanpopo Mission. Astrobiology 2021 21:12, 1473-1478

[4] Pálfalvi, J.K., Akatov, Yu., Sajó-Bohus, L., Szabó, J., Eördögh, I., 2003. Cosmic particle induced reaction detection with SSNTD stack exposed on-board of the international space station.
in: Gadioli, E. (Ed.), Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Nuclear Reaction Mechanisms, Varenna, Italy, June 9–12, 2003. Ricerca Scientifica Educ. Permanente, 122 (Suppl), 655–660.

[5] Pálfalvi, J.K., Akatov, Yu., Szabó, J., Sajó-Bohus, L., Eördögh, I., 2004. Evaluation of SSNTD stacks exposed on the ISS. Rad. Prot. Dos. 110, 393–397.

[6] Pálfalvi, J.K., Akatov, Yu., Szabó, J., Sajó-Bohus, L., Eördögh, I., 2004. Evaluation of SSNTD stacks exposed on the ISS. Rad.Prot. Dos. 110, 393–397.

[7] Kinchin, G.H. and Pease, R.S., 1955. The Displacement of Atoms in Solids by Radiation.
Reports on Progress in Physics, 18, 1-51.

[8] L. Sajó-Bohus, J. K. Pálfalvi, O. Arevalo, E. D. Greaves, P. Németh, D. Palacios, Szabo J. and I. Eördögh. Neutron Induced Complex Reaction Analysis with 3D Nuclear Track Simulation
Radiation Measurement 40 (2005), 442-447