Measurement of radon concentration in drinking water and natural radioactivity in soil and their radiological hazards

Abstract

Natural radioactivity in soil, rock, building materials, and water is very important for the radiological protection point of view. Radon is one of the carcinogenic radioactive gases. Radon causes radiological risk to the public via ingestion and inhalation. The 222 Rn activity concentrations were estimated in potable water of Uttara Kannada district (Coastal region) using the Emanometry technique. Radon activity levels were found to vary from 2.37 ± 0.19 Bql −1 to 171.35 ± 1.96 Bql −1 with a mean value of 22.62 ± 0.82 Bql −1. The majority of the radon levels are within the reference level of 100 Bql −1 proposed by WHO and EU Commission. Nearly 55% of the potable water had radon activity levels exceeds the MCL of 11.1 Bql −1 proposed by USEPA. The annual average ingestion dose values are lower than the action level of 100 µSvy −1 as proposed by WHO and EU Commission. The activity concentration of 226 Ra, 232 Th, and 40 K in soil were estimated by using NaI(Tl) detector-based gamma-ray spectrometry. The average activity of 226 Ra, 232 Th, and 40 K in soil samples is 36.12, 50.45, and 315.35 Bq kg −1 , respectively, and the activity concentration of 226 Ra and 232 Th is slightly higher than the world average. The calculated radiological hazards are well within the world average value.

Study on Estimation of Inhalation and Ingestion Dose due to ²²²Rn Concentration in Different Types of Ground Water of Some Taluks of Uttara Kannada District, Karnataka, India

“…226 Ra rich minerals present along the cracked surface putrefy and discharge 222 Rn into the groundwater. The diverse depths of water resources, as well as a different process influencing the climate and geo-hydrological nature of the locations, are further causes for the differences in 222 Rn concentration [25,26]. 222 Rn in ground water (from bore wells and hand pumps) is higher than in surface water.…”

Radon activity concentration measurements in water sources from Perak state Malaysia

“…As for the lakes and hot springs, the dissolved radon easily escapes to the surface as a result of temperature differences in the atmosphere. Other factors that account for the variation of 222 Rn concentration, include heterogeneous water sources depth, climatic conditions, and hydrogeological state of the locations (Suresh et al, 2019).…”

Estimation of Inhalation and Ingestion Dose Due to Radon Concentration in Drinking Water Samples of Shankaraghatta Forest Environment, Karnataka, India

“…Regulated levels of this radon in drinking water have been set by numerous international organizations. 11 Bql −1 is the maximum contamination limit (MCL) for radon in drinking water (4) .…”