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Vengosh A, Coyte RM, Podgorski J, Johnson TM. A critical review on the occurrence and distribution of the uranium- and thorium-decay nuclides and their effect on the quality of groundwater. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 808:151914. [PMID: 34856287 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2021] [Revised: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
This critical review presents the key factors that control the occurrence of natural elements from the uranium- and thorium-decay series, also known as naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM), including uranium, radium, radon, lead, polonium, and their isotopes in groundwater resources. Given their toxicity and radiation, elevated levels of these nuclides in drinking water pose human health risks, and therefore understanding the occurrence, sources, and factors that control the mobilization of these nuclides from aquifer rocks is critical for better groundwater management and human health protection. The concentrations of these nuclides in groundwater are a function of the groundwater residence time relative to the decay rates of the nuclides, as well as the net balance between nuclides mobilization (dissolution, desorption, recoil) and retention (adsorption, precipitation). This paper explores the factors that control this balance, including the relationships between the elemental chemistry (e.g., solubility and speciation), lithological and hydrogeological factors, groundwater geochemistry (e.g., redox state, pH, ionic strength, ion-pairs availability), and their combined effects and interactions. The various chemical properties of each of the nuclides results in different likelihoods for co-occurrence. For example, the primordial 238U, 222Rn, and, in cases of high colloid concentrations also 210Po, are all more likely to be found in oxic groundwater. In contrast, in reducing aquifers, Ra nuclides, 210Pb, and in absence of high colloid concentrations, 210Po, are more mobile and frequently occur in groundwater. In highly permeable sandstone aquifers that lack sufficient adsorption sites, Ra is often enriched, even in low salinity and oxic groundwater. This paper also highlights the isotope distributions, including those of relatively long-lived nuclides (238U/235U) with abundances that depend on geochemical conditions (e.g., fractionation induced from redox processes), as well as shorter-lived nuclides (234U/238U, 228Ra/226Ra, 224Ra/228Ra, 210Pb/222Rn, 210Po/210Pb) that are strongly influenced by physical (recoil), lithological, and geochemical factors. Special attention is paid in evaluating the ability to use these isotope variations to elucidate the sources of these nuclides in groundwater, mechanisms of their mobilization from the rock matrix (e.g., recoil, ion-exchange), and retention into secondary mineral phases and ion-exchange sites.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Joel Podgorski
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland
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Ćujić M, Janković Mandić L, Petrović J, Dragović R, Đorđević M, Đokić M, Dragović S. Radon-222: environmental behavior and impact to (human and non-human) biota. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOMETEOROLOGY 2021; 65:69-83. [PMID: 31955264 DOI: 10.1007/s00484-020-01860-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2019] [Revised: 12/24/2019] [Accepted: 01/06/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
As an inert radioactive gas, 222Rn could be easily transported to the atmosphere via emanation, migration, or exhalation. Research measurements pointed out that 222Rn activity concentration changes during the winter and summer months, as well as during wet and dry season periods. Changes in radon concentration can affect the atmospheric electric field. At the boundary layer near the ground, short-lived daughters of 222Rn can be used as natural tracers in the atmosphere. In this work, factors controlling 222Rn pathways in the environment and its levels in soil gas and outdoor air are summarized. 222Rn has a short half-life of 3.82 days, but the dose rate due to radon and its radioactive progeny could be significant to the living beings. Epidemiological studies on humans pointed out that up to 14% of lung cancers are induced by exposure to low and moderate concentrations of radon. Animals that breed in ground holes have been exposed to the higher doses due to radiation present in soil air. During the years, different dose-effect models are developed for risk assessment on human and non-human biota. In this work are reviewed research results of 222Rn exposure of human and non-human biota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirjana Ćujić
- University of Belgrade, Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences, POB 522, Belgrade, Serbia.
| | | | - Jelena Petrović
- University of Belgrade, Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences, POB 522, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Ranko Dragović
- Department of Geography, University of Niš, Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics, POB 224, Niš, Serbia
| | - Milan Đorđević
- Department of Geography, University of Niš, Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics, POB 224, Niš, Serbia
| | - Mrđan Đokić
- Department of Geography, University of Niš, Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics, POB 224, Niš, Serbia
| | - Snežana Dragović
- University of Belgrade, Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences, POB 522, Belgrade, Serbia
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Semwal P, Agarwal TK, Singh K, Joshi M, Gusain GS, Sahoo BK, Ramola RC. Indoor inhalation dose assessment for thoron-rich regions of Indian Himalayan belt. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2019; 26:4855-4866. [PMID: 30569360 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-018-3891-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2018] [Accepted: 11/29/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
222Rn, 220Rn, and their decay products are significant contributors to background radiation dose. Their concentration level, pertaining exposure, and consequent dose are prime concerns in indoor environments. The present study was performed in 101 dwellings of different villages of Almora district situated in Kumaun hills of Indian Himalayan belt. Measurement of gases and decay products were made in three different types of dwellings (i.e., mud, cemented, and stone with plaster) in three seasons (winter, summer, and rainy). Concentration values for 222Rn and EERC were found to be varying in the order of winter > summer > rainy while obtained least in rainy season for the case of 220Rn and EETC. Concentration values for 222Rn and EERC were found to be lesser for cemented houses. Relative standard deviation of concentration values was found to be higher for the rainy season. Yearly averaged concentration values for 222Rn, EERC, 220Rn, and EETC were noted to be higher than the global averages but comparable to some Indian studies. Annual inhalation dose due to 222Rn, 220Rn, and their progeny was found to be 0.55-4.71 mSv/year with an average value of 2.36 ± 0.83 mSv/year. These values were measured for the first time in the study area and provide a link for future studies in the dwellings representing higher concentration values.
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Affiliation(s)
- Poonam Semwal
- Department of Physics, Govt. P.G. College, New Tehri, Tehri Garhwal, 249001, India
| | - Tarun Kumar Agarwal
- Radiological Physics and Advisory Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Center, Mumbai, 400094, India
| | - Kuldeep Singh
- Department of Physics, Govt. P.G. College, New Tehri, Tehri Garhwal, 249001, India
| | - Manish Joshi
- Radiological Physics and Advisory Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Center, Mumbai, 400094, India.
| | - Gurupad Singh Gusain
- Department of Physics, Govt. P.G. College, New Tehri, Tehri Garhwal, 249001, India
| | - Bijay Kumar Sahoo
- Radiological Physics and Advisory Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Center, Mumbai, 400094, India
| | - Rakesh Chand Ramola
- Department of Physics, HNB, Garhwal University, BadshahiThaul Campus, Tehri Garhwal, 249199, India
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Kumar A, Sharma S, Mehra R, Kanwar P, Mishra R, Kaur I. Assessment of radon concentration and heavy metal contamination in groundwater of Udhampur district, Jammu & Kashmir, India. ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY AND HEALTH 2018; 40:815-831. [PMID: 29039044 DOI: 10.1007/s10653-017-0027-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2017] [Accepted: 09/30/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Radon concentration was measured in water samples of 41 different locations from Udhampur district of Jammu & Kashmir, India, by using RAD7 and Smart RnDuo monitor. The variation of radon concentration in water ranged from 1.44 ± 0.31 to 63.64 ± 2.88 Bq L-1, with a mean value of 28.73 Bq L-1 using RAD7 and 0.64 ± 0.28 to 52.65 ± 2.50 Bq L-1, with a mean value of 20.30 Bq L-1 using Smart RnDuo monitor, respectively. About 17.07% of the studied water samples recorded to display elevated radon concentration above the reference range suggested by United Nation Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiations (UNSCEAR). The mean annual effective dose of these samples was determined, and 78.95% samples were found to be within the safe limits set by World Health Organisation (WHO) and European Council (EU). The study revealed good agreement between the values obtained with two methods. Heavy metals (Zn, Cd, Fe, Cu, Ni, As, Hg, Co, Pb and Cr) were determined in water samples by microwave plasma atomic emission spectrometer, and their correlation with radon content was also analysed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ajay Kumar
- Department of Physics, DAV College, Amritsar, Punjab, 143001, India.
| | - Sumit Sharma
- Department of Physics, DAV College, Amritsar, Punjab, 143001, India
- Department of Physics, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar National Institute of Technology, Jalandhar, Punjab, 144011, India
| | - Rohit Mehra
- Department of Physics, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar National Institute of Technology, Jalandhar, Punjab, 144011, India
| | - Priya Kanwar
- Central Ground Water Board, North Western Himalayan Region, Jammu, J&K, India
| | - Rosaline Mishra
- Radiological Physics and Advisory Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, 400085, India
| | - Inderpreet Kaur
- Department of Chemistry, Centre for Advanced Studies, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, 143001, India
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Natural radon reduction rate of the community groundwater system in South Korea. Appl Radiat Isot 2017; 126:23-25. [DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2017.01.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2016] [Revised: 12/28/2016] [Accepted: 01/23/2017] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Machin DR, Leary ME, He Y, Shiu YT, Tanaka H, Donato AJ. Ultrasound Assessment of Flow-Mediated Dilation of the Brachial and Superficial Femoral Arteries in Rats. J Vis Exp 2016. [PMID: 27842366 DOI: 10.3791/54762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Arterial vasodilation to increases in wall shear rate is indicative of vascular endothelial function. In humans, the non-invasive measurement of endothelial function can be achieved by employing the flow-mediated dilation technique, typically performed in the brachial or superficial femoral artery. Briefly, a blood pressure cuff placed distal to an ultrasound probe is inflated to a suprasystolic pressure, which results in limb ischemia. After 5 min of occlusion the cuff is deflated, resulting in reactive hyperemia and increases in wall shear rate that signal vasodilatory molecules to be released from the endothelium eliciting vasodilation. Despite the thousands of studies performing flow-mediated dilation in humans, surprisingly, no studies have performed this technique non-invasively in living rats. Considering the recent shift in focus to translational research, the establishment of guidelines for non-invasive measurement of flow-mediated dilation in rats and other rodents would be extremely valuable. In the following article, a protocol is presented for the non-invasive measurement of flow-mediated dilation in brachial and superficial femoral arteries of rats, as those sites are most commonly measured in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Miriam E Leary
- Department of Kinesiology and Health Education, University of Texas at Austin
| | - Yuxia He
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah; Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, University of Utah
| | - Yan-Ting Shiu
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah; Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, University of Utah
| | - Hirofumi Tanaka
- Department of Kinesiology and Health Education, University of Texas at Austin
| | - Anthony J Donato
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah; Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah; Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of Utah; Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, Department of Veterans Affairs
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Berthot L, Pinti DL, Larocque M, Gagné S, Ferlatte M, Cloutier V. Exploring 222Rn as a tool for tracing groundwater inflows from eskers and moraines into slope peatlands of the Amos region of Quebec, Canada. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2016; 164:344-353. [PMID: 27552658 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2016.07.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2016] [Revised: 07/26/2016] [Accepted: 07/31/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Peatlands can play an important role in the hydrological dynamics of a watershed. However, interactions between groundwater and peat water remain poorly understood. Here, we present results of an exploratory study destined to test radon (222Rn) as a potential tracer of groundwater inflows from fluvioglacial landform aquifers to slope peatlands in the Amos region of Quebec, Canada. 222Rn occurs in groundwater but is expected to be absent from peat water because of its rapid degassing to the atmosphere. Any 222Rn activity detected in peat water should therefore derive from groundwater inflow. 222Rn activity was measured in groundwater from municipal, domestic wells and newly drilled and instrumented piezometers from the Saint-Mathieu-Berry and Barraute eskers (n = 9), from the Harricana Moraine (n = 4), and from the fractured bedrock (n = 3). Forty measurements of 222Rn activity were made from piezometers installed in five slope peatlands, along six transects oriented perpendicular to the fluvioglacial deposits. The relationship between 222Rn and total dissolved solids (TDS) measured in water from the mineral deposits underlying the peat layer suggests that 222Rn is introduced by lateral inflow from eskers and moraine together with salinity. This input is then diluted by peat water, depleted in both TDS and 222Rn. The fact that a relationship between TDS and 222Rn is visible calls for a continuous inflow of groundwater from lateral eskers/moraines, being 222Rn rapidly removed from the system by radioactive decay. Although more research is required to improve the sampling and tracing techniques, this work shows the potential of 222Rn tracer to identify groundwater inflow areas from granular aquifers found in eskers and moraines to slope peatlands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laureline Berthot
- GEOTOP and Département des Sciences de la Terre et de l'atmosphère, Université du Québec à Montréal, C.P. 8888, Succ. Centre-Ville, Montréal, QC H3C 3P8, Canada
| | - Daniele L Pinti
- GEOTOP and Département des Sciences de la Terre et de l'atmosphère, Université du Québec à Montréal, C.P. 8888, Succ. Centre-Ville, Montréal, QC H3C 3P8, Canada.
| | - Marie Larocque
- GEOTOP and Département des Sciences de la Terre et de l'atmosphère, Université du Québec à Montréal, C.P. 8888, Succ. Centre-Ville, Montréal, QC H3C 3P8, Canada
| | - Sylvain Gagné
- GEOTOP and Département des Sciences de la Terre et de l'atmosphère, Université du Québec à Montréal, C.P. 8888, Succ. Centre-Ville, Montréal, QC H3C 3P8, Canada
| | - Miryane Ferlatte
- GEOTOP and Département des Sciences de la Terre et de l'atmosphère, Université du Québec à Montréal, C.P. 8888, Succ. Centre-Ville, Montréal, QC H3C 3P8, Canada
| | - Vincent Cloutier
- Groundwater Research Group, Research Institute on Mines and the Environment, Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Campus d'Amos, 341, rue Principale Nord, Suite 5004, Amos, QC J9T 2L8, Canada
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The effect of geological structure on radon concentration dissolved in groundwater in nearby Anar fault based on a statistical analysis. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-015-4581-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Koray A, Akkaya G, Kahraman A, Kaynak G. Measurements of radon concentrations in waters and soil gas of Zonguldak, Turkey. RADIATION PROTECTION DOSIMETRY 2014; 162:375-381. [PMID: 24287600 DOI: 10.1093/rpd/nct308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
The radon concentrations in soil-gas and water samples (in the form of springs, catchment, tap, thermal) used as drinking water or thermal were measured using a professional radon monitor AlphaGUARD PQ 2000PRO. The measured radon concentrations in water samples ranged from 0.32 to 88.22 Bq l(-1). Most of radon levels in potable water samples are below the maximum contaminant level of 11 Bq l(-1) recommended by the US Environmental Protection Agency. The calculated annual effective doses due to radon intake through water consumption varied from 0.07 to 18.53 µSv y(-1). The radon concentrations in soil gas varied from 295.67 to 70 852.92 Bq m(-3). The radon level in soil gas was found to be higher in the area close to the formation boundary thrust and faults. No correlation was observed between radon concentrations in groundwater and soil gas. Also, no significant correlation was observed between soil-gas radon and temperature, pressure and humidity. The emanation of radon from groundwater and soil gas is controlled by the geological formation and by the tectonic structure of the area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdullah Koray
- Ereğli Education Faculty, Bülent Ecevit University, 67300 Kdz. Ereğli, Zonguldak, Turkey
| | - Gizem Akkaya
- Physics Department, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Uludag University, Gorukle Campus, Bursa 16059, Turkey
| | - Ayşegül Kahraman
- Physics Department, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Uludag University, Gorukle Campus, Bursa 16059, Turkey
| | - Gökay Kaynak
- Physics Department, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Uludag University, Gorukle Campus, Bursa 16059, Turkey
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Malakootian M, Khashi Z, Iranmanesh F, Rahimi M. Radon concentration in drinking water in villages nearby Rafsanjan fault and evaluation the annual effective dose. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-014-3345-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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Radon measurement in carbonated water with the Lucas cell and charcoal adsorption methods. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-013-2829-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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Shabana ESI, Abulfaraj WH, Kinsara AA, Rizaiza OSA. Natural radioactivity in the groundwater of Wadi Nu'man, Mecca Province, Saudi Arabia. RADIOCHIM ACTA 2013. [DOI: 10.1524/ract.2013.2043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Twenty-nine groundwater samples, collected from Wadi Nu'man wells, were analyzed for natural radioactivity to check for compliance with the national guideline values. Gross α and gross β screening, in addition to radon ( 222Rn) measurements, were performed for all samples. Samples of gross activity levels exceeding the national guideline values set out for drinking water were subjected to further investigation for radium and uranium isotopes using liquid scintillation counting and α-spectrometry, respectively. The results showed that the anomalous source was natural uranium. The water contains high concentrations of 222Rn and considerable levels of natural uranium. The 222Rn concentration ranged from 10–100 Bq/L with an average value of about 40 Bq/L. The uranium concentration, in samples of gross activity levels exceeding the national guideline value, ranged from 9 to 55 μg/L. The levels of 226Ra and 228Ra were below the detection limit of the counting system in all samples. The variation in the 222Rn and uranium concentrations was found to be linked with the local lithology. The higher values were recorded in the wells of Nu'man complex aquifer, where the predominating mineral is foliated monzonite. Recommendations and advices for water management to reduce radiation exposure to users are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Omar S. Abu Rizaiza
- King Abdulaziz University (KAU), Faculty of Engineering, Jeddah, Saudi-Arabien
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Akar Tarim U, Gurler O, Akkaya G, Kilic N, Yalcin S, Kaynak G, Gundogdu O. Evaluation of radon concentration in well and tap waters in Bursa, Turkey. RADIATION PROTECTION DOSIMETRY 2012; 150:207-212. [PMID: 21990391 DOI: 10.1093/rpd/ncr394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
(222)Rn measurements in water samples collected from 27 wells and 19 taps that were supplied from the investigated wells were conducted using the AlphaGUARD PQ 2000PRO radon gas analyser at sites across several geologic formations within the city of Bursa, Turkey. The measured radon concentrations ranged from 1.46 to 53.64 Bq l(-1) for well water and from 0.91 to 12.58 Bq l(-1) for tap water. Of the 27 sites sampled, only 7 had radon levels above the safe limit of 11.1 Bq l(-1) recommended by the USEPA. In general, all determined concentrations were well below the 100 Bq l(-1) revised reference level proposed by the European Union. These values of radon concentrations in water samples are compared with those reported from other countries. Doses resulting from the consumption of these waters were calculated. The minimum and the maximum annual mean effective doses due to (222)Rn intake through water consumption were 0.02 µSv a(-1) and 1.11 µSv a(-1), respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- U Akar Tarim
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Uludag University, Gorukle Campus, 16059 Bursa, Turkey
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