Radioprotection 2024 , 59 ( 3 ), 235 – 245 © A . E . A . Elzain et al ., Published by EDP Sciences , 2024 https :// doi . org / 10.1051 / radiopro / 2024018
Available online at : www . radioprotection . org
ARTICLE
Assessment of environmental radioactivity concentration and effective dose rates from radon gas exposure from water samples in Gezira State , Sudan
A . E . A . Elzain 1 , 2 ,* , R . Shady 2 , 3 and A . A . Yagob 4
1 Department of Physics , Kassala University , P . O . Box 266 Box 266 , Sudan . 2 Department of Physics , College of Science and Arts in Uglat Asugour , Qassim University , Uglat Asugour , Kingdom of Saudi Arabia . 3 Department of Physics , faculty of Science , Tanta University , Tanta , Egypt . 4 Department of Physical Sciences , College of Science , Jazan University , P . O . Box 114 , Jazan 82817 , Saudi Arabia .
Received : 17 December 2023 / Accepted : 24 May 2024
Abstract – A study was conducted in Gezira State , Sudan , to estimate the concentration of radon and the annual effective dose rate in water samples based on inhalation , ingestion , and age group . The study collected 26 samples from different locations . The results showed that the mean concentration of radon was 7.68 ± 1.07 Bq . l �1 , and the mean effective dose rate of radon released from water to indoor air was 19.17 ± 2.68 mSv . y �1 . The average effective dose rates calculated from ingestion , inhalation , and the total annual effective dose rate were 18.81 ± 2.63 , 19.34 ± 2.71 , and 38.15 ± 5.34 mSv . y �1 , respectively . The annual effective dose rates for infants , children , and adults were calculated to have mean values of 80.60 ± 11.27 , 53.73 ± 7.51 , and 38.38 ± 5.37 mSv . y �1 , respectively . The study found that 23.1 % of the samples exceeded the maximum contamination level , while 76.9 % were below the reference levels set by the USEPA , WHO , and EU . Despite the increase in radiation dose with age and consumption rates , the radiation dose from water was lower than the recommended limits set by UNSCEAR and WHO . Additionally , the bronchial epithelium received twice the radiation dose compared to the stomach walls .
Keywords : radon concentration / effective dose rate / RAD7 / water samples / different age groups
1 Introduction
Radon-222 , a naturally occurring radioactive gas with the longest half-life ( 3.82 days ), This isotope comes from the decaying chain of uranium-238 . Water ’ s radionuclide content is crucial as it can dissolve these elements during interactions with soil and rocks ( Duong et al ., 2024 ). Environmental monitoring focuses on detecting natural radiation from radon and its offspring in air , soil , building materials and water ( Idriss et al ., 2020 ; Elzain et al ., 2023 ). Radon-222 , a chemical found in drinking water , can cause cancer by damaging the DNA of lungs and stomach cells and can also lead to stomach disorders and classified as the second leading cause of lung cancer ( Riudavets et al ., 2022 ). Lung and stomach cancer are responsible for many annual cancer deaths and health problems in the USA and Europe ( Darby et al ., 2006 ; Messier and Serre , 2016 ). Health organizations have established acceptable levels of radon and radium concentrations , with
* Corresponding author : Abdelmoniem1 @ yahoo . com ; 3954 @ qu . edu . sa the US Environmental Protection Agency ( USEPA ) defining a radon concentration value of 11 Bq . l �1 to ensure safe drinking water through regulating drinking water quality with the Maximum Contaminant Level ( MCL ), the legal upper limit on material allowed in public water systems ( USEPA , 2022 ). The concentration of radon in groundwater can vary over time due to factors like recharge dilution and pumping changes ( WHO , 2011 ; ISO , 2023 ). The European Commission has recommended measures to address radon in drinking water , although the de-ionization of water can reduce radon concentrations in tube wells ( EUC , 2001 ; Nakano et al ., 2020 ). The United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation ( UNSCEAR ) estimates the transfer coefficient of radon from water to indoor air to be 10 �4 , and suggests radon concentration in water for human consumption from 4 to 40 Bq . l �1 ( UNSCEAR , 2008 ). The World Health Organization ( WHO ) guidelines for drinking water quality do not provide recommended radon levels , but it is more appropriate to measure concentrations in indoor air ; thus , public water supplies should control radon levels if they exceed the WHO guideline value of 100 Bq . l �1 ( WHO , 2004 ). The EU Directive 2013 / 51 / EURATOM sets limits on the concentration of radon
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