Assessments of 226Ra and 222Rn concentration in well and tap water from Sik, Malaysia, and consequent dose estimates. Issue 7 (3rd October 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ahmad, Nisar; Rehman, Javed; ur Rehman, Jalil; Nasar, Gulfam
• Is Part Of: Human & ecological risk assessment. Volume 25:Issue 7(2019)
• Page Start: 1697
• Page End: 1706
• Publication Date: 2019-10-03
• Subjects: Effective doses -- radium -- radon -- HPGe -- RAD7; Health risk assessment -- Periodicals; Ecological risk assessment -- Periodicals; Ecology -- Periodicals; Risk Assessment -- Periodicals; 363.102
• DOI: 10.1080/10807039.2018.1559034
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1080-7039

Abstract

Abstract: The ingestion of 226 Ra, inhalation, and ingestion of 222 Rn in water is considered the primary health risk for lungs and stomach. This study presents the concentrations of 226 Ra and 222 Rn in well and tap water collected from Sik, Malaysia, using HPGe and RAD7 detectors. Maximum average concentrations of 226 Ra and 222 Rn were found 47.6 ± 3.6 mBq/l and 9.3 ± 1.4 Bq/l in well water, respectively, and minimum were found 17.1 ± 3.6 mBq/l and 1.6 ± 1.0 Bq/l in tap water, respectively. A positive correlation (R=.88) was found between 226 Ra and 222 Rn determined by HPGe and RAD7 detectors, respectively. Infants in the age group of 0–1 y appeared to be at risk with respect to the annual effective doses from 226 Ra and 222 Rn as compared to the other age groups. However, annual effective doses for all three age groups from intake of 226 Ra and 222 Rn in well and tap drinking water were found below the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended level of .1 mSv/y.