Radon activity concentrations and radiological exposure assessment in drinking water in Prizren region – Kosovo

Abstract

ABSTRACT Our aim was to highlight the activity concentrations of radon in four types of water used for drinking: bottled water, tap water, spring water and well water in the region of Kosovo (Prizren and Suhareka). Radon concentrations were measured using Alpha GUARD PQ2000 PRO. The measurements show that arithmetic means ± standard deviations of radon (Rn-222) concentration were as follows: 1.5 ± 0.4 Bq/L in bottled water, 2.8 ± 0.6 Bq/L in tap water, 10.2 ± 1.3 Bq/L in well water and 10.3 ± 1.4 Bq/L in spring water. The average radon (Rn-222) concentrations were found to be 1.5 ± 0.4 Bq/L in bottled water, 2.8 ± 0.6 Bq/L in tap water, 10.2 ± 1.3 Bq/L in well water, and 10.3 ± 1.4 Bq/L in spring water, respectively. The total annual effective dose for bottled water was AEDT: 7.9 ± 2.1 µSv per year, for well water is AEDT: 52.6 ± 6.9 µSv per year, spring water was AEDT: 52.9 ± 7.1 µSv per year and tap water is AEDT: 14.1 ± 4.0 µSv per year. Upon analysing these results, it is evident that the radon concentrations in the water sources studied fall within safe levels for drinking, reassuring the overall safety of the water in terms of radon contamination.