Patna: The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) has dismissed claims that uranium has been detected in the breast milk of women in Bihar, saying there is no scientific evidence to support such assertions.
In a report submitted to the National Green Tribunal (NGT), the country’s leading nuclear research institution said recent reports linking uranium exposure to nursing mothers were based on selective interpretations and had unnecessarily alarmed the public.
The report was presented before an NGT bench comprising Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and expert members A. Senthil Vel and Afroz Ahmad.
No Evidence Of Health Risk To Children
BARC stated that there is no conclusive evidence showing uranium contamination in mothers’ milk in Bihar or suggesting any resulting health risk to children.
According to the agency, claims made by some researchers regarding uranium levels in groundwater in parts of Bihar and Punjab were based on individual assessments and interpretations rather than established scientific conclusions.
The report also noted that neither the World Health Organization (WHO) nor the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has prescribed any specific safety threshold for uranium content in breast milk.
BARC said public concerns had been amplified by selective reporting of scientific findings without adequate context.
Most Groundwater Samples Within Safety Limits
The agency maintained that uranium occurs naturally in soil and rock formations and can therefore be found in groundwater across many regions of the country.
According to the report, around 98% of surface water and groundwater samples examined nationally contain uranium levels that fall within accepted safety limits and do not pose a threat to human health.
BARC cited the drinking water standard prescribed by the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), which sets a limit of 60 micrograms of uranium per litre of water.
Data reviewed by the agency indicated that the overwhelming majority of groundwater samples across India remain below this threshold.
Uranium Presence Linked To Geology, Not Nuclear Facilities
The report also sought to dispel concerns that uranium detected in groundwater could be linked to nuclear installations.
BARC said scientific investigations conducted by institutions including the Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research have established that elevated uranium concentrations observed in certain areas arise from natural geological conditions.
The agency stated that there is no evidence connecting such findings to nuclear power plants, fuel-cycle facilities or any other radiological installations operating in the country.
Other Water Quality Concerns Identified
While dismissing concerns about uranium contamination, the report highlighted other groundwater quality issues.
Analysis of water samples found that concentrations of sulphate, chloride, nitrate, fluoride, total dissolved solids (TDS), alkalinity and hardness exceeded prescribed limits in approximately 83% of the samples examined.
The findings suggest that conventional water-quality challenges may pose a more significant concern in some areas than uranium contamination.
BARC concluded that available scientific evidence does not support claims of uranium contamination in breast milk and that there is no reason for public concern regarding radiation-related health risks from groundwater in most parts of the country.
