Abstract
In this study 222Rn (Radon) measurement were performed in water and soil gas and also both 222Rn and 220Rn concentrations were determined in air of Mansa and Muktsar district of Punjab, India. The data then used for calculation of the annual effective dose for health risk assessment of public. Totally 35 locations have been selected for the measurements. All measurements (222Rn and 220Rn) were done with RAD7 detection system. The 222Rn concentration in the water of studied area varies from 0.4 ± 0.2 Bq l-1 to 17 ± 2.8 Bq l-1. The average value of 222Rn concentration in soil, 222Rn and 220Rn concentrations in indoor air are 8 ± 3 kBq m-3, 47 ± 21 Bq m-3 and 39 ± 19 Bq m-3, respectively. The total average annual effective dose for water samples is 13 μSv a- 1 and for indoor air samples is 2.3 mSv a-1. It has been observed that 222Rn concentration in water has increased with depth of groundwater.
Highlights
IntroductionThe main source of indoor 222Rn and 220Rn levels are the building material, soil and tap water
222Rn is a radioactive inert gas that is a decay product of radium in the naturally occurring uranium series
The 222Rn concentration in water samples of studied area varies from 0.4 ± 0.2 Bq l−1 to 16.7 ± 2.8 Bq l−1 with an average value of 4.7 Bq l−1, which is lower than the recommended value of USEPA (1991)
Summary
The main source of indoor 222Rn and 220Rn levels are the building material, soil and tap water. The inhalation of 222Rn and its progeny contributes more than 50% of the total dose from natural sources (UNSCEAR, 2000). A high value of the 222Rn concentration in the particular geological area can be health hazard and will be the cause of lung Cancer for the residents of that area (Sevc et al, 1976; Khan, 2000). The 222Rn from water contributes to the total inhalation risk associated with 222Rn in indoor air. The high values of 222Rn concentration in drinking water lead to significant risk of stomach and gastrointestinal Cancer (Zhuo et al, 2001; Kendal and Smith, 2002)
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