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Shah SSA, Asif AR, Ilahi M, Haroon H, Islam I, Qadir A, Nisar I, Sani MMU, Iqbal R, Rahman MHU, Arslan M, Alwahibi MS, Elshikh MS, Ditta A. Geographical distribution of radon and associated health risks in drinking water samples collected from the Mulazai area of Peshawar, Pakistan. Sci Rep 2024; 14:6042. [PMID: 38472226 PMCID: PMC10933375 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-55017-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Geospatial methods, such as GIS and remote sensing, map radon levels, pinpoint high-risk areas and connect geological traits to radon presence. These findings direct health planning, focusing tests, mitigation, and policies where radon levels are high. Overall, geospatial analyses offer vital insights, shaping interventions and policies to reduce health risks from radon exposure. There is a formidable threat to human well-being posed by the naturally occurring carcinogenic radon (222Rn) gas due to high solubility in water. Under the current scenario, it is crucial to assess the extent of 222Rn pollution in our drinking water sources across various regions and thoroughly investigate the potential health hazards it poses. In this regard, the present study was conducted to investigate the concentration of 222Rn in groundwater samples collected from handpumps and wells and to estimate health risks associated with the consumption of 222Rn-contaminated water. For this purpose, groundwater samples (n = 30) were collected from handpumps, and wells located in the Mulazai area, District Peshawar. The RAD7 radon detector was used as per international standards to assess the concentration of 222Rn in the collected water samples. The results unveiled that the levels of 222Rn in the collected samples exceeded the acceptable thresholds set by the US Environmental Protection Agency (US-EPA) of 11.1 Bq L-1. Nevertheless, it was determined that the average annual dose was below the recommended limit of 0.1 mSv per year, as advised by both the European Union Council and the World Health Organization. In order to avoid the harmful effects of such excessive 222Rn concentrations on human health, proper ventilation and storage of water in storage reservoirs for a long time before use is recommended to lower the 222Rn concentration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Syed Samran Ali Shah
- School of Computing and Engineering, University of West London, Ealing, London, UK
- National Centre of Excellence in Geology, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, 25120, Pakistan
| | - Abdul Rahim Asif
- National Centre of Excellence in Geology, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, 25120, Pakistan
| | - Manzoor Ilahi
- National Centre of Excellence in Geology, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, 25120, Pakistan
- GIS & Space Applications in Geosciences (G-SAG) Lab, National Centre of Excellence in Geology, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, 25120, Pakistan
| | - Haseeb Haroon
- National Centre of Excellence in Geology, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, 25120, Pakistan
| | - Ihtisham Islam
- National Centre of Excellence in Geology, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, 25120, Pakistan
- Department of Geology, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University Sheringal, Dir (U), 18000, Pakistan
| | - Adnan Qadir
- Pakistan Museum of Natural History, Shakarparian National Park, Garden Ave, Islamabad, 44000, Pakistan
| | - Irfan Nisar
- National Centre of Excellence in Geology, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, 25120, Pakistan
| | | | - Rashid Iqbal
- Department of Agronomy, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, 63100, Pakistan
| | - Muhammed Habib Ur Rahman
- Agroecology and Organic Farming Group, Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- Crop Science, INRES, University of Bonn, Germany, Bonn, Germany
| | - Muhammad Arslan
- Agroecology and Organic Farming Group, Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
| | - Mona S Alwahibi
- Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, 11451, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohamed S Elshikh
- Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, 11451, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Allah Ditta
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University Sheringal, Dir (U), 18000, Pakistan.
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia.
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Mohammed AU, Aris AZ, Ramli MF, Isa NM, Suleiman Arabi A, Michael Orosun M. A systematic review and meta-analysis of radon risk exposure from drinking water resources in Nigeria. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND HEALTH. PART C, TOXICOLOGY AND CARCINOGENESIS 2023; 41:150-174. [PMID: 38060292 DOI: 10.1080/26896583.2023.2278957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
Elevated radon concentrations in drinking water pose an increased risk of cancer among nonsmokers. A Monte-Carlo Simulation was employed to assess the effective dose and cancer risk associated with radon exposure in humans, utilizing a systematic review and meta-analysis of related studies. These studies were sourced from databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Science Direct, and Google Scholar, focusing on drinking water from Nigeria's six geopolitical zones. The random effects models revealed a 222Rn concentration in drinking water of Nigeria at 25.01, with 95% confidence intervals (CI) of 7.62 and 82.09, indicating significant heterogeneity of (I2 = 100%; p < 0.001). The probabilistic risk of effective dose revealed a best-scenario (P 5%) at Kundiga and Magiro that exceeded the World Health Organization's (WHO) recommended effective dose limit of 200 µSv/y. Conversely, the worst-case scenario (P 95%) indicated concentrations surpassing the recommended limit at Kundiga, Edbe, Magiro, Ekiti, and Abeokuta. Excess Life Cancer Risk for infants, children, and adults attributed to the ingestion and inhalation of radon from various drinking water sources exceeded the recommended values of 0.2 x 10-3 established by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) and the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effect of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR). It underscores the necessity for treating radon-polluted water, employing methos such as aeration and granular activated carbon (GAC) processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adamu Usman Mohammed
- Department of Environment, Faculty of Forestry and Environment, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia
- Department of Applied Geology, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Nigeria
| | - Ahmad Zaharin Aris
- Department of Environment, Faculty of Forestry and Environment, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia
- International Institute of Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia
| | - Mohammad Firuz Ramli
- Department of Environment, Faculty of Forestry and Environment, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Noorain Mohd Isa
- Department of Environment, Faculty of Forestry and Environment, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia
- International Institute of Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia
| | - Abdullahi Suleiman Arabi
- Department of Geology, Faculty of Earth and Environmental Science, Bayero University (BUK), Kano, Nigeria
| | - Muyiwa Michael Orosun
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Physical Sciences, University of Ilorin, Kwara, Nigeria
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Zhang K, Chang S, Zhang Q, Bai Y, Wang E, Zhang M, Fu Q, Wei L, Yu Y. Heavy metals in influent and effluent from 146 drinking water treatment plants across China: Occurrence, explanatory factors, probabilistic health risk, and removal efficiency. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 450:131003. [PMID: 36857822 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Heavy metals (HMs) in drinking water have drawn worldwide attention due to their risks to public health; however, a systematic assessment of the occurrence of HMs in drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs) at a large geographical scale across China and the removal efficiency, human health risks, and the correlation with environmental factors have yet to be established. Therefore, this study characterised the occurrence patterns of nine conventional dissolved HMs in the influent and effluent water samples from 146 typical DWTPs in seven major river basins across China (which consist of the Yangtze River, the Yellow River, the Songhua River, the Pearl River, the Huaihe River, the Liaohe River and the Haihe River) for the first time and removal efficiency, probabilistic health risks, and the correlation with water quality. According to the findings, a total of eight HMs (beryllium (Be), antimony (Sb), barium (Ba), molybdenum (Mo), nickel (Ni), vanadium (V), cobalt (Co) and titanium (Ti)) were detected, with detection frequencies in influent and effluent water ranging from 2.90 (Mo) to 99.30% (Ba) and 1.40 (Ti) to 97.90% (Ba), respectively. The average concentration range was 0.41 (Be)- 77.36 (Sb) μg/L. Among them, Sb (exceeding standard rate 8%), Ba (2.89%), Ni (21.43%), and V (1.33%) were exceeded the national standard (GB5749-2022). By combining Spearman's results and redundancy analysis, our results revealed a close correlation among pH, turbidity (TURB), potassium permanganate index (CODMn), and total nitrogen (TN) along with the concentration and composition of HMs. In addition, the concentration of HMs in finished water was strongly affected by the concentration of HMs in raw water, as evidenced by the fact that HMs in surface water poses a risk to the quality of finished water. Metal concentration was the primary factor in assessing the health risk of a single metal, and the carcinogenic risk of Ba, Mo, Ni, and Sb should be paid attention to. In DWTPs, the removal efficiencies of various HMs also vary greatly, with an average removal rate ranging from 16.30% to 95.64%. In summary, our findings provide insights into the water quality and health risks caused by HMs in drinking water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kunfeng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Source Protection, Research Centre of Lake Environment, National Engineering Laboratory for Lake Pollution Control and Ecological Restoration, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China; Elite Engineers School, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150080, China; School of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, 26 Hexing Road, Harbin 150040, China.
| | - Sheng Chang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Source Protection, Research Centre of Lake Environment, National Engineering Laboratory for Lake Pollution Control and Ecological Restoration, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China.
| | - Qi Zhang
- School of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, 26 Hexing Road, Harbin 150040, China.
| | - Yunsong Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Source Protection, Research Centre of Lake Environment, National Engineering Laboratory for Lake Pollution Control and Ecological Restoration, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China; School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou 215009, China
| | - Enrui Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Source Protection, Research Centre of Lake Environment, National Engineering Laboratory for Lake Pollution Control and Ecological Restoration, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Moli Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Source Protection, Research Centre of Lake Environment, National Engineering Laboratory for Lake Pollution Control and Ecological Restoration, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Qing Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Source Protection, Research Centre of Lake Environment, National Engineering Laboratory for Lake Pollution Control and Ecological Restoration, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Liangliang Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resources and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Yanling Yu
- Elite Engineers School, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150080, China; School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150080, China.
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Investigation of radioactivity level in drinking water resources and soil samples collected from the Hawraman villages, Iraq. Appl Radiat Isot 2023; 194:110665. [PMID: 36716690 DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2023.110665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
In the present study, the RAD7 and NaI(Tl) techniques were utilized to determine the radon concentrations in drinking water resources and the natural primordial radionuclides in soil samples collected from Hawraman villages. The measured radon concentrations ranged from 1.7 ± 0.6 to 34.0 ± 2.8 Bq L-1 with an arithmetic mean of 14.8 ± 1.2 Bq L-1. This research demonstrates that roughly 54% of drinking water samples exceed the EPA-recommended level of 11.1 Bq L-1. For adults, children, and infants, the total annual effective doses for the three types (Ding, Dinh, and Ddi) vary from 7.6 to 149.2 μSv y-1 with an average of 65.0 μSv y-1, 8.1-160.0 μSv y-1 with an average of 69.7 μSv y-1, and 10.5-207.0 μSv y-1 with an average of 90.2 μSv y-1.18.2%, 22.7%, and 36.4%, respectively, of the annual effective dose for adults, children, and infants exceeds the 100 μSv y-1 level recommended by WHO and UNCEAR 2000. The activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th, and 4 K in soil samples varied from 10.9 ± 0.1 to 32.6 ± 0.2 Bq kg-1, 18.3 ± 0.4 to 52.1 ± 0.6 Bq kg-1, and 252.7 ± 2.5 to 585.6 ± 3.7 Bq kg-1. The arithmetic mean concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th, and 4 K were determined to be 19.4 ± 0.2 Bq kg-1, 36.2 ± 0.5 Bq kg-1and 426.6 ± 3.2 Bq kg-1, respectively. This research reveals that the average soil activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th, and 4 K are within the global average limits of 32, 45, and 420 Bq kg-1, respectively. Comparing the concentrations to global averages, some soil samples revealed significant amounts of radionuclides, with around 18% of 232Th and 41% of 4 K. The computed radiological hazard indices of 100% of Raeq., 82% of Dout, 82% of Eout, and 95.5% of ELCRout are all below the internationally recommended levels declared by Unscear 2000.
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Zemour Y, Mebrouk N, Mayer A, Mekebret I, Sherif MI. Hydrochemical and geological controls on dissolved radium and radon in northwestern Algeria hydrothermal groundwaters. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 313:137573. [PMID: 36535504 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.137573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
This study presents the results of the first investigation on natural occurrence of radium and radon in Algerian thermal water systems. Activity concentrations of Rn and Ra isotopes were measured in sixteen hydrothermal springs of northwestern Algeria. Samples displayed high activities, especially for 222Rn, 224Ra and 226Ra (up to 377 × 103 Bq/m3, 730 Bq/m3 and 4470 Bq/m3, respectively). Approximately, 50% of the investigated springs displayed activities of combined long-lived Ra (226Ra + 228Ra) in excess of the maximum contaminant level (MCL) of the WHO and EPA for drinking water. Factors controlling the distribution of radionuclides in the aquifer system are investigated. The observed correlation between Ra isotope and TDS suggests that adsorption/desorption is not the dominant process controlling the distribution of Ra in waters. Our results indicate that the excess SO42- limits the concentration of dissolved Ba2+ and thereby, the elevated Ra activities in these hydrothermal systems are not simply limited by co-precipitation with BaSO4 (barite). The data shows that Ra activities are likely dominated by the recoil process of parent isotopes in the aquifer solids. The minimal abundance of clay minerals and oxides in the aquifer, in addition to thermal activities in northwestern Algeria, significantly enhances the mobilization of Ra into waters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youcef Zemour
- University of Oran 2 Mohamed Ben Ahmed, GEOREN Laboratory, Géoressources, Environnement & Risques Naturels, B.P. 1015 El M'naouer, 31000, Oran, Algeria.
| | - Naïma Mebrouk
- University of Oran 2 Mohamed Ben Ahmed, GEOREN Laboratory, Géoressources, Environnement & Risques Naturels, B.P. 1015 El M'naouer, 31000, Oran, Algeria
| | - Adriano Mayer
- Avignon University, UMR 1114 EMMAH, UAPV, 301 Rue Baruch de Spinoza, BP 21239, F-84916, Avignon, France
| | - Imane Mekebret
- University of Oran 2 Mohamed Ben Ahmed, GEOREN Laboratory, Géoressources, Environnement & Risques Naturels, B.P. 1015 El M'naouer, 31000, Oran, Algeria; Paris-Saclay University, Geosciences Laboratory (GEOPS) - CNRS. Rue du Belvédère, Bât. 504, 91405, Orsay, France
| | - Mahmoud I Sherif
- Department of the Geophysical Sciences, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA; Department of Geology, Tanta University, Tanta, 31527, Egypt
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Oladapo OO, Adagunodo TA, Aremu AA, Oni OM, Adewoye AO. Evaluation of soil-gas radon concentrations from different geological units with varying strata in a crystalline basement complex of southwestern Nigeria. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2022; 194:486. [PMID: 35672524 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-022-10173-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study is to determine the variation of soil-gas radon concentrations from different rock formations in Ogbomoso, southwestern Nigeria. The radon concentrations at different five geological domains in Ogbomoso are determined with respect to depth. The measurements varied from the surface (0 cm) to 100 cm depth, with an interval of 20 cm. At all the geological domains (Porphyroclastic, Granite, Quartzite, Migmatite and Banded gneiss), radon has its minimum emission over migmatite at 0 cm, while its maximum emissions occured over granite and banded gneiss at 80 cm. The overall soil-gas radon concentrations in Ogbomoso varied from 0.06 to 26.5 kBq/m3, which is within the natural limit of 0.4 to 40 kBq/m3 based on the International Commission on Radiological Protection's recommendation. An F-ratio of 6.989 and a p-value of 0.001 were obtained for the first inferential hypothesis, while an F-ratio of 2.489 and a p-value of 0.076 were obtained for the second inferential hypothesis using ANOVA test. The post hoc (using Tukey HSD and Duncan) tests revealed that at 60 + cm, depth controls the level of radon concentrations being emanated from the subsurface. The pollution index in Ogbomoso is of level 1 at 80 cm and level 0 (safe limit) at other depths. In conclusion, the soil-gas radon emission depends on the local geology and lithological sequences (depths). Cracks that could act as passage for indoor radon at the floors of the buildings around the polluted zones should be avoided in order to have a sustainable city.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olukunle Olaonipekun Oladapo
- Department of Science and Laboratory Technology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria
| | | | - Abraham Adewale Aremu
- Department of Pure and Applied Physics, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria
| | - Olatunde Michael Oni
- Department of Pure and Applied Physics, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria
| | - Abosede Olufunmi Adewoye
- Department of Earth Sciences, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria
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