Pollution Research Paper

Vol 40, Issue 3, 2021; Page No.(721-727 )

EVALUATION OF RADON CONCENTRATIONS AND ASSOCIATED ANNUAL EFFECTIVE DOSE FROM DRINKING WATER IN SAMAWA CITY, SOUTH OF IRAQ

RUSSEL S. MOHAMMED AND ABDULAMEER K. FARHOOD

Abstract

Radon and its radioactive progenies in the indoor environment have been identified as the main sources of public radiation dose. The presence of radon in drinking tap water and other household uses can increase the indoor radon level and causes radiation-related health hazards both through inhalation and ingestion. In the present research, radon concentrations are measured in 167 tap water samples collected from 32 different districts in the city of Samawa, the center of AL Muthanna Province-Iraq, using the active electronic radon detector RAD7. The results show that radon concentrations were varied from (0.015± 0.13Bq/l) to (1.01± 0.38Bq/l) with a mean value of (0.174 ± 0.13) Bq/l. The annual effective dose due to ingestion and inhalation for child and adult was calculated. Also, the mean of the total annual effective dose for adults and children is calculated and found to be (1.282) μSv/y and (1.923) μSv/y respectively. The measured values of radon gas activity concentrations and annual effective dose in all samples are lower than that of the save limit prescribed by the USEPA, UNSCEAR, and WHO, which indicates that no significant radiological hazards for the inhabitants in the study area.