Abstract
The present study deals with the assessment of radon (Rn-222) concentration in groundwater and associated radiation doses among the local inhabitants due to its exposure in different wards of Purulia municipality of West Bengal, India. Radon concentrations in 120 groundwater samples collected from the municipal area have been measured using AlphaGuard radon monitor, and the value has been found to vary between 10.44 Bq/l and 403.56 Bq/l. The annual effective doses due to inhalation and ingestion of groundwater radon have been estimated for adults, children and infants, and the average doses for all three types have been found to be well above the reference dose level (RDL) of 0.1 mSv/y proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO). Additionally, some major cations (Na+, K+, Ca2+, Li+) and pH of the water samples have been analysed with an aim to find possible correlation between these parameters and water radon concentration. Low to moderate correlations have been observed between radon and these parameters. However, the high doses associated with inhalation and ingestion of radon suggest that there may be some potential health hazard risks among the local population which attracts immense importance towards studying radiation protection in this area.
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(Source: Geological Survey of India and modified after Sanyal and Sengupta 2012)
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The datasets used and/or analysed in the current study would be available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
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Acknowledgements
We are grateful to Sidho-Kanho-Birsha University for providing the essential infrastructural facility and also the local people of the area under study for their cooperation.
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CB acknowledges the financial assistance from Department of Science & Technology-Fund for Improvement of Science &Technology Infrastructure (SR/FST/PS-1/2020/159) New Delhi, India; RUSA grant of SKBU; University Grant Commissions-Faculty Research Promotion Scheme Start-up-Grant [(No.F.30–557/2021(BSR) Dated: 21 Jan, 2022)], seed grant of faculty research, SKBU.
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Joydeep Mukherjee, Sayantan Mitra, Sushanta Sutradhar and Saheli Chowdhury analysed and interpreted the water radon data regarding this work. Joydeep Mukherjee, Sushanta Sutradhar and Sayantan Mitra collected the water samples and measured the radon activity using the AlphaGuard radon monitor and pH of the water samples using digital pH meter. Joydeep Mukherjee and Sayantan Mitra were major contributors in writing the manuscript. The overall corrections were made by Saheli Chowdhury, Sonjoy Mondal, Argha Deb and Chiranjib Barman. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
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Mukherjee, J., Mitra, S., Sutradhar, S. et al. Analysis of radon concentration in ground water and estimation of associated health risks in Purulia Municipality, West Bengal, India. Arab J Geosci 16, 125 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-023-11202-w
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-023-11202-w