Abstract
The objective of this research was to evaluate the levels of natural radiation in the Environmental Protection Area (APA) of the Passaúna River (Campo Largo region) in the state of Paraná, Brazil. Gamma radiation measurements were obtained with the gamma spectrometer, and for the measurements of radium and radon concentrations in soil and water the AlphaGUARD monitor and its accessories were used. Until the present time, 4 water samples from Passaúna’s River, 2 well water samples from the region, 2 sample of a secondary lake and 4 soil samples. The results show that the gamma spectrometric measurements found values ranging from 0.052 to 0.204 μSv / h. However, the results of the radon concentrations in the soil were significant, since the values obtained varied from 110 ± 1.30 kBq/m³ to 9 ± 0.80 kBq/m³, which results can be compared with the radon and radio measurements obtained in the wells water, which indicated values higher than the national limit of 0.5 Bq/L, established by the Brazilian Ministry of Health, and the World Health Organization. The values in the lake water were lower the limits. More measurements are needed to map the region to understand the radiation levels and to correlate water and soil measurements with the geological features of the place.
Highlights
The radioactivity present in the Earth's crust has a predominantly natural origin, there is a portion coming from artificial sources
There is an important relationship between the human exposure to radon and lung cancer occurrence, which results in statement that radon is considered the second cause of such type of cancer [5]
The general objective of this research is to evaluate the natural radioactivity in the region of the Passaúna Environmental Protection Area (EPA) well in Campo Largo / RMC, verify the concentrations of radon and radium in lake and well waters in the Passaúna spring region, as well as the radon concentration of the soil and to analyze the doses related to the natural gamma radiation in the region of the Passaúna
Summary
The radioactivity present in the Earth's crust has a predominantly natural origin, there is a portion coming from artificial sources. Been more specific: 226Ra, which can be found in rocks, soil, water and minerals, is considered as an important source of human exposure to ionizing radiation and its decay mainly by means of alpha emission originates 222Rn isotope, which is radioactive [3]. When it is inhaled, because of its short half-live, the daughter isotopes of metals could be very easy adhere to the lung tissue and emitted radiation of their decay is deposited in a certain region / thickness of the lung tissue [4]. There is an important relationship between the human exposure to radon and lung cancer occurrence, which results in statement that radon is considered the second cause of such type of cancer [5]
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