Bio
Dr. Hardev Singh Virk is a distinguished academic and environmental scientist affiliated with SGGS World University in Fatehgarh Sahib, Punjab, India. With an M.Sc. and Ph.D. in High Energy Nuclear Physics, Dr. Virk has dedicated his career to addressing critical environmental challenges, particularly concerning groundwater contamination and radiation exposure in the Punjab region. His notable research includes pioneering studies on natural uranium content in groundwaters of Mohali, Fatehgarh, and Bathinda districts, assessing excess cancer risks and annual effective doses. He also investigated uranium biokinetics and organ dose estimation following ingestion from groundwater in the Patiala district. Beyond his published works, Dr. Virk has supervised numerous research projects, guided 18 scholars, and contributed extensively to scientific journals as an author and reviewer. His work has been instrumental in shedding light on the ecological disasters and health hazards linked to groundwater quality in Punjab, making him a key voice in environmental monitoring and radiological risk assessment.
Educational Journey
M.Sc., Ph.D.
Experience
Editors Role
Reviewer
GJHSS
0 -Research
Measurement of Concentration of Natural Uranium in Ground Waters of Bathinda District (S. Punjab) for the Assessment of Annual Effective Dose
LED Fluorimeter has been used to measure the uranium content of the ground water samples of Bathinda District of South Punjab.16 locations have been selected for the present investigation. The aim behind this study is to see the variation in the uranium content of the ground water during 2012-2016 and to assess the radiological and chemical risk due to the uranium present through ingestion. The uranium concentration of the water samples of the studied villages varies from 9.72 to 186.61 μgl-1 with an average value of 69.54 μgl-1.This uranium content exceeds the safe limit of 60 ppb of uranium in groundwater proposed by AERB, India.
Natural Uranium Content in Ground Waters of Mohaliand Fatehgarh Districts of North Punjab (India) for the Assessment of Excess Cancer Risk
LED Fluorimeter has been used to measure the uranium content of the ground water samples of Mohali and Fatehgarh districts of North Punjab (India).33 locations have been selected for the present investigation. The aim of this study is to investigate the uranium content of the ground water in Northern districts of Punjab for sake of comparison with its occurrence in Southern districts of Punjab; and to assess the radiological and chemical risk due to the uranium present through ingestion. The uranium concentration of the water samples of the studied villages varies from 0.63 to 57.82 μgl-1 with an average value of 16.93 μgl-1.Theuranium content of all the samples in groundwater lies within the safe limit of 60 μgl-1(ppb) of uranium proposed by AERB, India.
Punjab in the Grip of an Ecological Disaster: Is there a Solution?
Punjab, the land of five rivers, is facing one of the worst crisis in its history. Its youth is trapped in drugs, marginal farmers are trapped in bank loans and are forced to commit suicides, the financial situation is so dismal that the State is in a debt trap, and the moral fabric of vibrant Punjabi society is under attack by internal and external contradictions. However, I am not going to focus on the obvious but will like to investigate the long term effects of Ecological Disaster hovering over Punjab. During 1990s, when our research group in Guru Nanak Dev University was sanctioned a research project by Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) of Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) to undertake a survey for Environmental Radiation Health Hazards to population of Punjab, we could never imagine the consequences would be so alarming? Our aim was to assess the environmental radiation dose to inhabitants due to Radon gas emanating from the soil; the source of this gas being radioactive Uranium in soil and groundwater. We reported that in Malwa belt, the radiation dose is 20% higher compared with other districts of Punjab. However, there was no imminent danger to public health due to presence of indoor Radon in homes.
