Abstract
Seasonal variations of the radon and radium activity concentrations in karstic water sources originating in karstic formations were investigated as part of a premiere systematic survey conducted in Romania. A database including a total of 228 drinking water samples collected from 30 distinct water sources adjacent to rural communities was compiled. The radon and radium activity concentrations for all seasons, assessed based on solid scintillation, ranged from 2.1 to 19.7 Bq/L and from 0.6 to 3.0 Bq/L, respectively. Overall, the detected radon and radium contents did not exceed the radioprotection standards recommended by national and European legislation. However, in at least one season, the measured values for 31% of the samples exceeded the 11.1 Bq/L maximum contaminant level for radon in drinking water recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency of the United States. The associated radiological risk, reported in terms of annual effective dose, was calculated to be between 9.8 × 10−6 and 6.0 × 10−5 mSv/y for radon and between 5.9 × 10−5 and 2.7 × 10−4 mSv/y for radium, which are considerably below the WHO (World Health Organization) guidelines at a value of 0.1 mSv/y.
Highlights
IntroductionPublisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations
The range of radon activity concentration is caused by specific particularities in groundwater dynamics due to the different permeability properties of the karst or other rocks crossed by the water
This study presents the first attempt at investigating the activity concentrations of radon and radium in Romanian karstic springs and at assessing their potential health hazards for users
Summary
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Radium (226 Ra) occurs in virtually all types of rocks and soils, with its concentration being directly correlated with geological specificity. Radon (222 Rn) is a chemically inert and radioactive gas produced by the direct decay of 226 Ra. Once produced, radon infiltrates the interstitial fluids [1], where it can dissolve into groundwater [2]. Radon infiltrates the interstitial fluids [1], where it can dissolve into groundwater [2]. 226 Ra and
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