Measurement of radon concentrations and effective dose assessment in groundwater from Kamphaeng-Saen district, Nakhon Pathom province and Ban-Pong district, Ratchaburi province

Abstract

Abstract Radon monitoring has been increasingly conducted worldwide because it is considered as the hazardous effects on the human healthy, probably making an increased cancer risk when people received radon by inhalation of air and ingestion of water containing high concentrations over extended periods of time. Radon is natural occurring radionuclides found in the rock, soil and water, and can therefore enter in the water supplies used for drinking water. The objective in this study was to determine the radon level in groundwater in order to set up a policy on water management. The groundwater radon concentrations were measured by RAD7 device with RAD H2O technique following a protocol proposed by the manufacturer from 26 groundwater samples randomized in Kamphaeng-Saen District, Nakhon Pathom Province and Ban-Pong District, Ratchaburi Province where the groundwater has been frequently used for public tap water. The results show that the radon concentrations range between 0.05 and 2.51 BqL–1 with an average value of 0.95 BqL–1. All measured radon concentrations are well below the allowed maximum contamination level (MCL) of radon concentration in water of 11 BqL-1, proposed by US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). The annual effective doses of adults calculated for inhalation and ingestion are below 12.74 µSvy–1, and also well lower than the safe limit (100 µSvy–1) recommended by World Health Organization and EU Council. Thus radon in groundwater of this study do not pose any significant health risk to the public.