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Estimation of ambient gamma radiation dose and drinking water radon concentration in coastal taluks of Uttara Kannada district, Karnataka

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Abstract

This study assesses the ambient gamma dose rate and radon concentration in drinking water at different locations in few coastal taluks of Uttara Kannada district. The ambient gamma dose and 222Rn activity in drinking water has been estimated by using micro R survey meter and Emanometry technique respectively. The annual effective doses ranges from 0.39 to 0.82 mSvy−1 with a geometric mean value of 0.55 mSvy−1 and it is slightly higher than the world average value. 222Rn activity in drinking water vary from 3.34 ± 0.22 to 160.18 ± 1.84 Bql−1 with mean value of 25.07 ± 0.86 Bql−1. Annual average ingestion dose due to consuming water are well below the WHO and EC suggested action level of 100 µSvy−1.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would really like to express their sincere thanks to Department of Physics, Kuvempu University for imparting an instrumentation facility to carry out the research work and Dr. M.P. Karki, President M.P.E society for providing research equipments at Undergraduate Research Center at SDM Degree College Honavar.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, M.P.E Society’s S.D.M Degree College, Honavar, Karnataka, 581334, India

    Suresh S.

  2. Department Science and Humanities, PES University, Electronic City Campus, Bangalore, India

    Rangaswamy D. R.

  3. Department of Studies and Research in Physics, Kuvempu University, Shankaraghatta, 577451, India

    Sannappa J. & Rangaswamy D. R.

  4. Department of Physics, IDSG Government College, Chikkamagaluru, 577102, India

    Srinivasa E.

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  1. Sannappa J.
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Sannappa, J., Suresh, S., Rangaswamy, D.R. et al. Estimation of ambient gamma radiation dose and drinking water radon concentration in coastal taluks of Uttara Kannada district, Karnataka. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 323, 1459–1466 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-019-06812-2

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