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Adithya VSP, Chidambaram S, Prasanna MV, Venkatramanan S, Tirumalesh K, Thivya C, Thilagavathi R. Health Risk Implication and Spatial Distribution of Radon in Groundwater Along the Lithological Contact in South India. ARCHIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2021; 80:308-318. [PMID: 33398396 DOI: 10.1007/s00244-020-00798-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/04/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The presence of radioactive elements in groundwater results in high health risks on surrounding populations. Hence, a study was conducted in central Tamil Nadu, South India, to measure the radon levels in groundwater and determine the associated health risk. The study was conducted along the lithological contact of hard rock and sedimentary formation. The concentrations of uranium (U) varied from 0.28 to 84.65 µg/L, and the radioactivity of radon (Rn) varied from 258 to 7072 Bq/m3 in the collected groundwater samples. The spatial distribution of Rn in the study area showed that higher values were identified along the central and northern regions of the study area. The data also indicate that granitic and gneissic rocks are the major contributors to Rn in groundwater through U-enriched lithological zones. The radon levels in all samples were below the maximum concentration level, prescribed by Environmental Protection Agency. The effective dose levels for ingestion and inhalation were calculated according to parameters introduced by UNSCEAR and were found to be lesser (0.235-6.453 μSvy-1) than the recommended limit. Hence, the regional groundwater in the study area does not pose any health risks to consumers. The spatial distribution of Rn's effective dose level indicates the higher values were mainly in the central and northern portion of the study area consist of gneissic, quarzitic, and granitic rocks. The present study showed that Rn concentrations in groundwater depend on the lithology, structural attributes, the existence of uranium minerals in rocks, and the redox conditions. The results of this study provide information on the spatial distribution of Rn in the groundwater and its potential health risk in central Tamil Nadu, India. It is anticipated that these data will help policymakers to develop plans for management of drinking water resources in the region.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sabarathinam Chidambaram
- Department of Earth Sciences, Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu, Annamalai Nagar, India
- Water Research Centre, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, Kuwait City, Kuwait
| | - Mohan Viswanathan Prasanna
- Faculty of Engineering and Science, Department of Applied Geology, Curtin University Malaysia, CDT 250, 98009, Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia
| | | | - Keesari Tirumalesh
- Isotope and Radiation Application Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, India
- Department of Chemistry, Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai, 400094, India
| | - Chandrasekar Thivya
- Department of Earth Sciences, Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu, Annamalai Nagar, India
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Stojanovska Z, Boev B, Zunic ZS, Ivanova K, Ristova M, Tsenova M, Ajka S, Janevik E, Taleski V, Bossew P. Variation of indoor radon concentration and ambient dose equivalent rate in different outdoor and indoor environments. RADIATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL BIOPHYSICS 2016; 55:171-183. [PMID: 26943159 DOI: 10.1007/s00411-016-0640-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2015] [Accepted: 02/20/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Subject of this study is an investigation of the variations of indoor radon concentration and ambient dose equivalent rate in outdoor and indoor environments of 40 dwellings, 31 elementary schools and five kindergartens. The buildings are located in three municipalities of two, geologically different, areas of the Republic of Macedonia. Indoor radon concentrations were measured by nuclear track detectors, deployed in the most occupied room of the building, between June 2013 and May 2014. During the deploying campaign, indoor and outdoor ambient dose equivalent rates were measured simultaneously at the same location. It appeared that the measured values varied from 22 to 990 Bq/m(3) for indoor radon concentrations, from 50 to 195 nSv/h for outdoor ambient dose equivalent rates, and from 38 to 184 nSv/h for indoor ambient dose equivalent rates. The geometric mean value of indoor to outdoor ambient dose equivalent rates was found to be 0.88, i.e. the outdoor ambient dose equivalent rates were on average higher than the indoor ambient dose equivalent rates. All measured can reasonably well be described by log-normal distributions. A detailed statistical analysis of factors which influence the measured quantities is reported.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zdenka Stojanovska
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Goce Delcev University, Krste Misirkov No.10-A, P. O. 201, 2000, Stip, Republic of Macedonia.
| | - Blazo Boev
- Faculty of Natural and Technical Sciences, Goce Delcev University, Krste Misirkov No.10-A, P. O. 201, 2000, Stip, Republic of Macedonia
| | - Zora S Zunic
- Institute of Nuclear Sciences "Vinča", University of Belgrade, P. O. Box 522, Belgrade, 11000, Serbia
| | - Kremena Ivanova
- National Center of Radiobiology and Radiation Protection, 3 Sv. Georgi Sofiyski st., 1606, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Mimoza Ristova
- Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematic, Institute of Physics, University in Ss. Cyril and Methodius, Arhimedova 3, 1000, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia
| | - Martina Tsenova
- National Center of Radiobiology and Radiation Protection, 3 Sv. Georgi Sofiyski st., 1606, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Sorsa Ajka
- Croatian Geological Survey, Sachsova 2, P. O. Box 268, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Emilija Janevik
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Goce Delcev University, Krste Misirkov No.10-A, P. O. 201, 2000, Stip, Republic of Macedonia
| | - Vaso Taleski
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Goce Delcev University, Krste Misirkov No.10-A, P. O. 201, 2000, Stip, Republic of Macedonia
| | - Peter Bossew
- German Federal Office for Radiation Protection, div. SW 1.1, 120-130 Köpenicker Allee, 10318, Berlin, Germany
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Atkins ML, Santos IR, Perkins A, Maher DT. Dissolved radon and uranium in groundwater in a potential coal seam gas development region (Richmond River Catchment, Australia). JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2016; 154:83-92. [PMID: 26867097 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2016.01.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2015] [Revised: 01/20/2016] [Accepted: 01/24/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The extraction of unconventional gas resources such as shale and coal seam gas (CSG) is rapidly expanding globally and often prevents the opportunity for comprehensive baseline groundwater investigations prior to drilling. Unconventional gas extraction often targets geological layers with high naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) and extraction practices may possibly mobilise radionuclides into regional and local drinking water resources. Here, we establish baseline groundwater radon and uranium levels in shallow aquifers overlying a potential CSG target formation in the Richmond River Catchment, Australia. A total of 91 groundwater samples from six different geological units showed highly variable radon activities (0.14-20.33 Bq/L) and uranium levels (0.001-2.77 μg/L) which were well below the Australian Drinking Water Guideline values (radon; 100 Bq/L and uranium; 17 μg/L). Therefore, from a radon and uranium perspective, the regional groundwater does not pose health risks to consumers. Uranium could not explain the distribution of radon in groundwater. Relatively high radon activities (7.88 ± 0.83 Bq/L) in the fractured Lismore Basalt aquifer coincided with very low uranium concentrations (0.04 ± 0.02 μg/L). In the Quaternary Sediments aquifers, a positive correlation between U and HCO3(-) (r(2) = 0.49, p < 0.01) implied the uranium was present as uranyl-carbonate complexes. Since NORM are often enriched in target geological formations containing unconventional gas, establishing radon and uranium concentrations in overlying aquifers comprises an important component of baseline groundwater investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marnie L Atkins
- School of Environmental Science and Management, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW, 2480, Australia; National Marine Science Centre, School of Environment, Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW, 2480, Australia.
| | - Isaac R Santos
- School of Environmental Science and Management, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW, 2480, Australia; National Marine Science Centre, School of Environment, Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW, 2480, Australia
| | - Anita Perkins
- School of Environmental Science and Management, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW, 2480, Australia; National Marine Science Centre, School of Environment, Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW, 2480, Australia
| | - Damien T Maher
- School of Environmental Science and Management, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW, 2480, Australia
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Műllerová M, Kozak K, Kovács T, Smetanová I, Csordás A, Grzadziel D, Holý K, Mazur J, Moravcsík A, Neznal M, Neznal M. Indoor radon survey in Visegrad countries. Appl Radiat Isot 2016; 110:124-128. [DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2016.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2015] [Revised: 01/05/2016] [Accepted: 01/07/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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