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Radon concentration in drinking water sources of the region adjacent to a tectonically active Karak Thrust, southern Kohat Plateau, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

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Abstract

A total of 84 drinking water samples from tube wells, natural springs, hand pumps and open wells in the region adjacent to a tectonically active Karak Thrust, Pakistan, were analyzed for radon content determination. These samples have a mean, maximum and minimum radon values of 9.4 ± 0.4, 25.1 ± 0.9, and 1.1 ± 0.2 Bq l−1, respectively. This study indicates that 24 % of samples from tube wells, 44 % from springs, and 50 % from hand pumps have radon levels in excess of the EPA recommended maximum contaminant level of 11.1 Bq l−1. The mean annual effective doses of all the samples are lower than the reference level of 0.1 mSv a−1. Drinking water from majority of the sources within the region is generally safe as far as radon related health hazards are concerned with exception of few isolated cases.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Centre of Excellence in Geology, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, Pakistan

    N. U. Khattak & M. T. Shah

  2. Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences, Bahria University, Islamabad, Pakistan

    M. A. Khan

  3. Physics Division, PINSTECH, P.O. Nilore, Islamabad, Pakistan

    N. Ali

Authors
  1. N. U. Khattak
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  2. M. A. Khan
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  3. M. T. Shah
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  4. N. Ali
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Correspondence to N. U. Khattak.

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Khattak, N.U., Khan, M.A., Shah, M.T. et al. Radon concentration in drinking water sources of the region adjacent to a tectonically active Karak Thrust, southern Kohat Plateau, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 302, 315–329 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-014-3257-0

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