Assessment of annual effective dose due to inhalation and ingestion of radon from groundwater at Kantharawichai District, Maha Sarakham Province

Abstract

Assessment of annual effective dose due to inhalation (Dinh) and ingestion (Ding) of radon from 43 groundwater samples at Kantharawichai District, Maha Sarakham Province using Radon Gas Monitor ATMOS 12 DPX. The results were as follows: 1. radon concentrations ranged from 1.04 – 21.87 Bq/L with a mean of 8.26±3.77 Bq/L, 2. The Dinh ranged from 2.60 – 54.69 μSv/y with a mean of 20.70±9.40 μSv/y. The Ding ranged from 0.19 – 3.94 μSv/y with a mean of 1.50±0.70 μSv/y, 3. The annual effective dose on organs, namely the dose on lungs (Dlung) ranged from 6.26 – 131.24 μSv/y with a mean of 49.60±22.70 μSv/y, and the dose for stomach (Dstomach) is 0.45 – 9.45 μSv/y with a mean of 3.60±1.60 μSv/y, and 4. The mean of excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR×10-4) in males was 0.90±0.40 and in females, it was 0.96±0.44. The results will be compared with the action levels of various organizations, including. The maximum allowable radon concentration in water is 11.1 Bq/L, according to US EPA, and the allowable annual effective dose is 100 μSv/y, in accordance with WHO. Analysis of results can signify the health safety of radon inhalation and ingestion of groundwater from the study area.