Abstract
The authors’ research has shown that the maximum values of 222Rn activity concentration in all granitoid massifs of Poland exceed 100 Bq·L−1, i.e. the value allowed for waters intended for human consumption. Such waters should be de-radoned prior to being distributed through the water supply networks. Even more common in these areas is the occurrence of potentially medicinal radon waters, i.e. waters characterized, in accordance with Polish law, by radon activity concentration of at least 74 Bq·L−1. Such waters may be used for balneotherapeutic treatments. For the Karkonosze, Strzegom-Sobótka, Kłodzko-Złoty Stok and Kudowa massifs, the range of hydrogeochemical background of 222Rn exceeds both 74 and 100 Bq·L−1. This indicates common occurrence in these areas of both potentially medicinal radon waters and waters which require de-radoning before being supplied for human consumption. More than 50% of groundwaters from the Karkonosze granite area contain over 100 Bq·L−1 of 222Rn. This means that these waters are mostly radon and high-radon waters. The remaining massifs contain predominantly low-radon waters and radon-poor waters. The 222Rn concentrations obtained by the authors are comparable to values measured in groundwaters in other granitoid massifs in the world, creating both problems and new application possibilities.
Highlights
The radon isotope 222 Rn, alongside radium isotopes 226 Ra and 228 Ra, is the most important natural component of groundwaters, giving them their radioactive properties [1,2]. 222 Rn is a natural radioactive isotope whose activity concentration in groundwaters varies in a very broad range—from10−4 Bq·L−1 to 102,000 Bq·L−1, reaching 9 orders of magnitude [3]
The obtained results demonstrate maximum values exceeding 100 Bq·L−1 in all granitoid massifs in Poland. It indicates a possibility of capturing groundwaters with 222 Rn activity concentrations exceeding the value allowable for waters intended for human consumption in all areas with granitoid rocks playing an important part in their structures
The results obtained by the authors demonstrate that the maximum values of 222 Rn activity concentration in all granitoid massifs in Poland exceed 100 Bq·L−1
Summary
The radon isotope 222 Rn, alongside radium isotopes 226 Ra and 228 Ra, is the most important natural component of groundwaters, giving them their radioactive properties [1,2]. 222 Rn is a natural radioactive isotope whose activity concentration in groundwaters varies in a very broad range—from10−4 Bq·L−1 to 102,000 Bq·L−1 , reaching 9 orders of magnitude [3]. Among the four natural isotopes of radon (with mass numbers 222, 220, 219 and 218), it is only 222 Rn that, owing to its half-life of slightly more than 3.82 days [4,5,6], can be transported with groundwater over distances of dozens or even hundreds of metres, and occasionally even further [2,7]. This is the reason for common occurrence of 222 Rn in groundwater environment [3,8,9]. Radon-enriched waters occur in areas of strong brittle tectonic deformations and in zones of fractures and
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