Radon Concentration in the Water Samples of Hassan District, Karnataka, India
Radon is a radioactive gas emitted from radium, a daughter product of uranium that occurs naturally in rocks and soil. Radon, together with its decay products, emits alpha particles that can damage lung tissue. The activity concentration of 222Ra has been analyzed in water samples collected from borewells and rivers in and around Hassan city, Karnataka State, India. The measurements were performed by Emanometry technique. The concentration of 222Rn in borewell waters varies from 18.49±1.89 to 397.26±12.3 Bql-1 with geometric mean 120.48±12.87 Bql-1 and in river waters it varies from 92.63±9.31 to 93.98±9.51 Bql-1 with geometric mean of 93.16±9.33 Bql-1. In the present study, the radon concentrations are higher in Adarshanagar and Viveka Nagar which are found to be 397.26±12.3 Bql-1 and 325.78±32.56 Bql-1. Most of the analysed samples show a 222Rn concentration more than 100 Bql-1 and this can be attributed to the geology of the area where the ground waters are located, which is predominantly of granitic characteristic. The average inhalation dose and ingestion dose in the borewell water are found to be 0.405 and 0.033 µSvy-1; and in river water it is found to be 0.234 and 0.019 µSvy-1, respectively. The average total effective dose rate in borewell waters and river waters are found to be 0.433 and 0.253 µSvy-1, which does not cause any health risk to the population of Hassan region.
[1] United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), “Radon in drinking water health risk reduction and cost analysis”, USEPA: Washington, 1999.
[2] Nisar Ahmad, Mohamad Suhaimi Jaafar and Mohammed Saad Alsaffar, Study of radon concentration and toxic elements in drinking and irrigated water and its implications in Sungai Petani, Kedah, Malaysia, Journal of Radiation Research and Applied Sciences, Vol. 8 (3), pp 294–299, 2015.
[3] E. Fonollasa, A. Penalver, F. Borrull and C. Aguilar, Radon inspring water in the south of catalonia, Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, vol.151, pp 275-281, 2016.
[4] T. S. Shashikumar, M. S. Chandrashekara, N. Nagaiah and L. Paramesh, Variations of radon and thoron concentrations in different types of dwellings in Mysore city, India, Radiation Protection Dosimetry, vol.133 (1), pp 44-49, 2009.
[5] V. Duggal, R. Mehra and A. Rani, Determination of Rn-222 level in ground water using Rad7 detector in the Bathinda district of Punjab, India, Radiation Protection Dosimetry, vol.156, pp 239-245, 2013.
[6] M. M. Isam Salih, H. B. L. Petterson and E. Lund, Uranium and thorium series radionuclides in drinking water from drilled bedrock wells: correlation to geology and bedrock radioactivity and dose estimation, Radiation Protection Dosimetry, vol.102, pp 249-258, 2002.
[7] V. Jobb_agy, N. Kavasi, J. Somlai, B. Mate, and T. Kovacs, Radiochemical characterization of spring waters in Balaton Upland, Hungary, estimation of radiation dose to members of public. J. Microchem. 94, pp 159-165, 2010.
[8] T. A. Przylibski and J. Gorecka, Rn-222 activity concentration differences in groundwaters of three Variscan granitoid massifs in the Sudetes (NE Bohemian Massif, SW Poland), J. Environ. Radioact. 134, pp 43-53, 2014.
[9] USNRC, Risk assessment of radon in drinking water. Committee on risk assessment of exposure to radon in drinking Water, Board on radiation effects research, Commission on life sciences, National Research Council staff. Washington, D.C: National Academy Press, 1999.
[10] EPA, U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1991.
[11] Environmental Protection Agency, National primary drinking water regulations; radionuclides; EPA final rule, Washington, D. C, 2000.
[12] European Commission recommendation of the protection of the public against exposure to radon in drinking water supplies. Doc. 4589, 2001.
[13] World Health Organization, Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality–Vol.1: Recommendations, 3rd ed. WHO, Geneva, 2006.
[14] Ground water information booklet, Hassan district, Karnataka; Government of India Ministry of Water Resources, Central Ground Water Board, South Western Region Bangalore, pp 10-20, 2007.
[15] Y. J. Bhaskar Rao, K. Naha, R. Srinivasan and K. Gopalan, Geology, geochemistry and geochronology of the Archaean Peninsular Gneiss around Gorur, Hassan District, Karnataka, India, Proc. Indian Acad. Sci. (Earth Planet. Sci.), vol.100 (4), pp 399-412, 1991.
[16] K. Naha, R. Srinivasan and S. Jayaram, Structural evolution of the Peninsular Gneiss — an early Precambrian migmatitic complex from South India, vol.79 (1), pp 99-109, 1990.
[17] H. M. Mahesh, D. N. Avadhani, N. Karunakara, H. M. Somashekarappa, Y. Narayana and K. Siddappa, 222Rn concentration in ground waters of coastal Karnataka and kaiga of south west coast of India, Health Physics, vol.81 (6), pp 724-728, 2001.
[18] C. D. Strain and J. E. Watson, An evaluation of 226Ra and 222Rn concentrations in ground water and surface water near a phosphate mining and manufacturing facility, Health Physics, vol.37, pp 779-783, 1979.
[19] J. E. Watson and B. F. Mitsch, Ground water concentration of 226Ra and 222Rn concentrations in North Carolina phosphate lands, Health Physics, vol.52, pp 361-365, 1987.
[20] T. S. Shashikumar, M. S. Chandrashekara and L. Paramesh, Studies on Radon in soil gas and Natural radionuclides in soil, rock and ground water samples around Mysore city, International Journal of Environmental Sciences, Vol.1 (5), pp 786-797, 2011.
[21] B. C. Shivakumara, M. S. Chandrashekara, E. Kavitha, L. Paramesh, Studies on 226Ra and 222Rn concentration in drinking water of Mandya region, Karnataka State, India, Journal of Radiation Research and Applied Sciences Vol.7, pp 491-498, 2014
[22] M. Raghavayya, M. A. R. Iyengar and P. M. Markose, Estimation of 226Ra by Emanometry. Bulletin of Radiation Protection, vol.3 (4), 1980.
[23] ICRP (International Commission on Radiological Protection), Recommendations of ICRP, Oxford: Pergamon, Publication 60, 1991.
[24] UNSCEAR, Report to the General Assembly with Scientific Annexes, United Nations, New York, Annexure B, pp 97–105, 2000.
[25] B. A. Al-Bataina, S. Tarawneh, M. S. Lateifeh and Abhath Al-Yarmouk, “Basic Sci. & Eng.”, vol.12 (1), pp 221-230, 2003.
[26] B. M. Rajesh, L. Paramesh, M.S. Chandrashekara and P. Nagaraja, Studies on radon concentration in aqueous samples at Mysore city, India, Radiation Protection and Environment, vol.35, pp 9-13, 2012.
[27] S. Selvasekarapandian, R. Sivakumar, Muguntha Manikandan N, et al, A study on radon concentration in water in coonoor, India. J Radional Nucl Chem, Vol. 252, pp 345-347, 2002.
[28] P. D Cunha, Y. Narayana, N. Karunakara, I. Yashodhara and S. Kumara, S, Concentration of 222Rn in drinking water along coastal kerala and evaluation of ingestion doses. Radiation Protection and Environment vol.34, pp 197-200, 2011.
[29] S. Ilani, T. Minster, J. Kronfeld and O. Even, The source of anomalous radioactivity in the springs bordering the Sea of Galilee, Israel, Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, vol. 85, pp 137-146, 2006.
[30] J. S. Cho, J. K. Ahn, H. C. Kim and D. W. Lee, Radon concentrations in groundwater in Busan measured with a liquid scintillation counter method, Journal of Environmental Radioactivity vol.75, pp 105-112, 2004.
[31] J. M. Godoy and M. L. Godoy, Natural radioactivity in Brazilian groundwater, Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, vol.85, pp 71-83, 2006.
[32] P. Vesterbacka, I. Makelainen and H. Arvela, Natural radioactivity in drinking water in private wells in Finland. Radiation Protection Dosimetry, vol.113, pp 223-232, 2005.
[33] W. Zhuo, T. Iida & X. Yang, Occurrence of 222Rn, 226Ra, 228Ra and U in groundwater in Fujian Province, China. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, vol.53, pp 111-120, 2001.
[34] D. M. Bonotto, Doses from 222Rn, 226Ra, and 228Ra in groundwater from Guarani aquifer, South America, Journal of Environmental Radioactivity vol.76, pp 319-335, 2004.
[35] T. A. Przylibski, K. Mamont-Cieśla, M. Kusyk, J. Dorda and B. Kozłowska, Radon concentrations in groundwaters of the Polish part of the Sudety Mountains (SW Poland). Journal of Environmental Radioactivity 75, 193-209, 2004.
[36] N. G. ShivaPrasad, N. Nagaiah, G. V. Ashok H. Mahesh, Radiation dose from dissolved radon in potable waters of the Bangalore environment, South India, International Journal of Environmental Studies, vol.64, 83-92, 2007.
[37] V. Duggal, A. Rani, R. Mehra and R. C. Ramola, Assessment of natural radioactivity levels and associated dose rates in soil samples from Northern Rajasthan, India, Radiat Prot Dosimetry, vol.158, pp 235-240, 2014.
[38] B. M. Rajesh, L. Paramesh, M. S. Chandrashekara and P. Nagaraja, Studies on radon concentration in aqueous samples at Mysore city, India. Radiation Protection and Environment, vol.35, pp 9-13, 2012.
[1] United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), “Radon in drinking water health risk reduction and cost analysis”, USEPA: Washington, 1999.
[2] Nisar Ahmad, Mohamad Suhaimi Jaafar and Mohammed Saad Alsaffar, Study of radon concentration and toxic elements in drinking and irrigated water and its implications in Sungai Petani, Kedah, Malaysia, Journal of Radiation Research and Applied Sciences, Vol. 8 (3), pp 294–299, 2015.
[3] E. Fonollasa, A. Penalver, F. Borrull and C. Aguilar, Radon inspring water in the south of catalonia, Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, vol.151, pp 275-281, 2016.
[4] T. S. Shashikumar, M. S. Chandrashekara, N. Nagaiah and L. Paramesh, Variations of radon and thoron concentrations in different types of dwellings in Mysore city, India, Radiation Protection Dosimetry, vol.133 (1), pp 44-49, 2009.
[5] V. Duggal, R. Mehra and A. Rani, Determination of Rn-222 level in ground water using Rad7 detector in the Bathinda district of Punjab, India, Radiation Protection Dosimetry, vol.156, pp 239-245, 2013.
[6] M. M. Isam Salih, H. B. L. Petterson and E. Lund, Uranium and thorium series radionuclides in drinking water from drilled bedrock wells: correlation to geology and bedrock radioactivity and dose estimation, Radiation Protection Dosimetry, vol.102, pp 249-258, 2002.
[7] V. Jobb_agy, N. Kavasi, J. Somlai, B. Mate, and T. Kovacs, Radiochemical characterization of spring waters in Balaton Upland, Hungary, estimation of radiation dose to members of public. J. Microchem. 94, pp 159-165, 2010.
[8] T. A. Przylibski and J. Gorecka, Rn-222 activity concentration differences in groundwaters of three Variscan granitoid massifs in the Sudetes (NE Bohemian Massif, SW Poland), J. Environ. Radioact. 134, pp 43-53, 2014.
[9] USNRC, Risk assessment of radon in drinking water. Committee on risk assessment of exposure to radon in drinking Water, Board on radiation effects research, Commission on life sciences, National Research Council staff. Washington, D.C: National Academy Press, 1999.
[10] EPA, U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1991.
[11] Environmental Protection Agency, National primary drinking water regulations; radionuclides; EPA final rule, Washington, D. C, 2000.
[12] European Commission recommendation of the protection of the public against exposure to radon in drinking water supplies. Doc. 4589, 2001.
[13] World Health Organization, Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality–Vol.1: Recommendations, 3rd ed. WHO, Geneva, 2006.
[14] Ground water information booklet, Hassan district, Karnataka; Government of India Ministry of Water Resources, Central Ground Water Board, South Western Region Bangalore, pp 10-20, 2007.
[15] Y. J. Bhaskar Rao, K. Naha, R. Srinivasan and K. Gopalan, Geology, geochemistry and geochronology of the Archaean Peninsular Gneiss around Gorur, Hassan District, Karnataka, India, Proc. Indian Acad. Sci. (Earth Planet. Sci.), vol.100 (4), pp 399-412, 1991.
[16] K. Naha, R. Srinivasan and S. Jayaram, Structural evolution of the Peninsular Gneiss — an early Precambrian migmatitic complex from South India, vol.79 (1), pp 99-109, 1990.
[17] H. M. Mahesh, D. N. Avadhani, N. Karunakara, H. M. Somashekarappa, Y. Narayana and K. Siddappa, 222Rn concentration in ground waters of coastal Karnataka and kaiga of south west coast of India, Health Physics, vol.81 (6), pp 724-728, 2001.
[18] C. D. Strain and J. E. Watson, An evaluation of 226Ra and 222Rn concentrations in ground water and surface water near a phosphate mining and manufacturing facility, Health Physics, vol.37, pp 779-783, 1979.
[19] J. E. Watson and B. F. Mitsch, Ground water concentration of 226Ra and 222Rn concentrations in North Carolina phosphate lands, Health Physics, vol.52, pp 361-365, 1987.
[20] T. S. Shashikumar, M. S. Chandrashekara and L. Paramesh, Studies on Radon in soil gas and Natural radionuclides in soil, rock and ground water samples around Mysore city, International Journal of Environmental Sciences, Vol.1 (5), pp 786-797, 2011.
[21] B. C. Shivakumara, M. S. Chandrashekara, E. Kavitha, L. Paramesh, Studies on 226Ra and 222Rn concentration in drinking water of Mandya region, Karnataka State, India, Journal of Radiation Research and Applied Sciences Vol.7, pp 491-498, 2014
[22] M. Raghavayya, M. A. R. Iyengar and P. M. Markose, Estimation of 226Ra by Emanometry. Bulletin of Radiation Protection, vol.3 (4), 1980.
[23] ICRP (International Commission on Radiological Protection), Recommendations of ICRP, Oxford: Pergamon, Publication 60, 1991.
[24] UNSCEAR, Report to the General Assembly with Scientific Annexes, United Nations, New York, Annexure B, pp 97–105, 2000.
[25] B. A. Al-Bataina, S. Tarawneh, M. S. Lateifeh and Abhath Al-Yarmouk, “Basic Sci. & Eng.”, vol.12 (1), pp 221-230, 2003.
[26] B. M. Rajesh, L. Paramesh, M.S. Chandrashekara and P. Nagaraja, Studies on radon concentration in aqueous samples at Mysore city, India, Radiation Protection and Environment, vol.35, pp 9-13, 2012.
[27] S. Selvasekarapandian, R. Sivakumar, Muguntha Manikandan N, et al, A study on radon concentration in water in coonoor, India. J Radional Nucl Chem, Vol. 252, pp 345-347, 2002.
[28] P. D Cunha, Y. Narayana, N. Karunakara, I. Yashodhara and S. Kumara, S, Concentration of 222Rn in drinking water along coastal kerala and evaluation of ingestion doses. Radiation Protection and Environment vol.34, pp 197-200, 2011.
[29] S. Ilani, T. Minster, J. Kronfeld and O. Even, The source of anomalous radioactivity in the springs bordering the Sea of Galilee, Israel, Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, vol. 85, pp 137-146, 2006.
[30] J. S. Cho, J. K. Ahn, H. C. Kim and D. W. Lee, Radon concentrations in groundwater in Busan measured with a liquid scintillation counter method, Journal of Environmental Radioactivity vol.75, pp 105-112, 2004.
[31] J. M. Godoy and M. L. Godoy, Natural radioactivity in Brazilian groundwater, Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, vol.85, pp 71-83, 2006.
[32] P. Vesterbacka, I. Makelainen and H. Arvela, Natural radioactivity in drinking water in private wells in Finland. Radiation Protection Dosimetry, vol.113, pp 223-232, 2005.
[33] W. Zhuo, T. Iida & X. Yang, Occurrence of 222Rn, 226Ra, 228Ra and U in groundwater in Fujian Province, China. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, vol.53, pp 111-120, 2001.
[34] D. M. Bonotto, Doses from 222Rn, 226Ra, and 228Ra in groundwater from Guarani aquifer, South America, Journal of Environmental Radioactivity vol.76, pp 319-335, 2004.
[35] T. A. Przylibski, K. Mamont-Cieśla, M. Kusyk, J. Dorda and B. Kozłowska, Radon concentrations in groundwaters of the Polish part of the Sudety Mountains (SW Poland). Journal of Environmental Radioactivity 75, 193-209, 2004.
[36] N. G. ShivaPrasad, N. Nagaiah, G. V. Ashok H. Mahesh, Radiation dose from dissolved radon in potable waters of the Bangalore environment, South India, International Journal of Environmental Studies, vol.64, 83-92, 2007.
[37] V. Duggal, A. Rani, R. Mehra and R. C. Ramola, Assessment of natural radioactivity levels and associated dose rates in soil samples from Northern Rajasthan, India, Radiat Prot Dosimetry, vol.158, pp 235-240, 2014.
[38] B. M. Rajesh, L. Paramesh, M. S. Chandrashekara and P. Nagaraja, Studies on radon concentration in aqueous samples at Mysore city, India. Radiation Protection and Environment, vol.35, pp 9-13, 2012.
@article{"International Journal of Chemical, Materials and Biomolecular Sciences:73666", author = "T. S. Shashikumar", title = "Radon Concentration in the Water Samples of Hassan District, Karnataka, India", abstract = "Radon is a radioactive gas emitted from radium, a daughter product of uranium that occurs naturally in rocks and soil. Radon, together with its decay products, emits alpha particles that can damage lung tissue. The activity concentration of 222Ra has been analyzed in water samples collected from borewells and rivers in and around Hassan city, Karnataka State, India. The measurements were performed by Emanometry technique. The concentration of 222Rn in borewell waters varies from 18.49±1.89 to 397.26±12.3 Bql-1 with geometric mean 120.48±12.87 Bql-1 and in river waters it varies from 92.63±9.31 to 93.98±9.51 Bql-1 with geometric mean of 93.16±9.33 Bql-1. In the present study, the radon concentrations are higher in Adarshanagar and Viveka Nagar which are found to be 397.26±12.3 Bql-1 and 325.78±32.56 Bql-1. Most of the analysed samples show a 222Rn concentration more than 100 Bql-1 and this can be attributed to the geology of the area where the ground waters are located, which is predominantly of granitic characteristic. The average inhalation dose and ingestion dose in the borewell water are found to be 0.405 and 0.033 µSvy-1; and in river water it is found to be 0.234 and 0.019 µSvy-1, respectively. The average total effective dose rate in borewell waters and river waters are found to be 0.433 and 0.253 µSvy-1, which does not cause any health risk to the population of Hassan region.
", keywords = "Borewell, effective dose, emanometry, 222Rn.", volume = "10", number = "8", pages = "1084-5", }
