238 A . E . A . Elzain et al .: Radioprotection 2024 , 59 ( 3 ), 235 – 245
Table 2 . A comparison of the study findings and global results . |
References
E inh ( mSv . y �1 ) |
E Tot ( mSv . y �1 ) |
Effective dose rate with respect to the age |
|
|
groups of the inhabitants ( mSv . y �1 ) |
No . |
Location |
C ( Bq . l �1 ) |
E ing |
|
|
|
( mSv . y �1 ) |
|
E Infant E Children E Adults |
1 |
Ghana |
0.026-0.093 |
|
|
|
Opoku-Ntim et al . ( 2019 ) |
2 |
China |
11.4-102 |
|
|
|
Piao et al . ( 2020 ) |
3 |
Qassim area , Saudi Arabia |
5.08 ± 1.08 |
12.80 |
18.50 |
31.30 |
Massoud et al . ( 2020 ) |
45.8 3.30 115.40 59.40 Dosunmu et al . ( 2022 )
|
|
4 Iwaraja-Ifewara faults Southwestern , Nigeria
5 |
India |
4.20 |
0.05 |
4.25 |
Kandari et al . ( 2016 ) |
6 |
Turkey |
0.75 |
8.06 |
8.81 |
Tabar and Yakut ( 2014 ) |
7 |
Venezuela |
200.00 |
- |
200.00 |
Horváth et al . ( 2000 ) |
8 |
Oyun , Kwara State- Nigeria |
|
|
|
|
548.64 |
483.10 |
352.20 |
Michael et al . ( 2022 ) |
9 |
Northeastern , Saudi Arabia |
|
|
|
|
6.14 |
2.26 |
2.96 |
Mamun and Alazmi ( 2022 ) |
10 |
India |
|
|
|
|
21.80 |
19.40 |
19.80 |
Sukanya et al . ( 2021 ) |
11 |
Iraq |
|
|
|
|
285.6 |
133.76 |
116.24 |
Ameen and Mansour ( 2022 ) |
12 |
Pakistan |
5.67 ± 1.34 |
0.11 |
– |
0.11 |
30 ± 7.1 |
11 ± 2.6 |
14.5 ± 3.4 |
Ahmad et al . ( 2020 ) |
13 |
Sudan �Gezira state |
7.68 ± 1.07 |
18.81 |
19.34 |
38.15 |
80.60 |
53.73 |
38.38 |
Present study |
recommended reference level of 100Bq . l �1 ( EUC , 2001 ; UNSCEAR , 2008 ; WHO , 2011 ). Table 2 presents a comparison of radon concentrations from various locations globally , including Ghana , the Qassim area of Saudi Arabia , Pakistan , and China . Higher concentrations were reported in China and the Iwaraja- Ifewara faults in Southwestern Nigeria , whereas lower values were observed in Ghana , Qassim area of Saudi Arabia , and Pakistan .
Table 1 and Figure 4 present the annual effective doses released into the air from water samples in the study area . The calculated effective dose rates reserved by radon released from water to indoor air ranged from 3.87 ± 0.32 mSv . y �1 to 45.89 ± 7.62 mSv . y �1 with a mean value of 19.17 ± 2.68 mSv . y �1 . The study has found that the amount of radon exposure in water can vary significantly due to different levels of concentration and leakage from normal usage . This variation leads to a wide range of effective dose rates in indoor air , which means it ’ s crucial to consider these variations when assessing potential health risks in residential settings . It ’ s important for individuals to be aware of these risks and take appropriate measures to mitigate radon exposure . The World Health Organization ( WHO ) has established a tolerable annual mean exposure dose level for safe water use , and if the dose exceeds this limit , remedial action must be taken . The cumulative annual mean exposure doses for all samples are within the permissible level range suggestedbytheWHOandEUCouncil ( EUC , 2001 ; WHO , 2011 ).
Table 1 and Figures 5 and 7 display annual effective dose rates for ingestion , inhalation and total effective dose from water samples , with values ranging from 3.80 ± 0.32 to 45.03 ± 7.47 mSv . y �1 ; 3.91 ± 0.33 to 46.32 ± 7.69 mSv . y �1 ; and 7.70 ± 0.65 to 91.35 ± 15.16 mSv . y �1 , with mean values of 18.81 ± 2.63 mSv . y �1 for ingestion , 19.34 ± 2.71 mSv . y �1 for inhalation , and 38.15 ± 5.34 mSv . y �1 for total annual effective dose rate , respectively . The study aimed to investigate the amount of radon exposure in household water samples and its effects on human health . When radon-contaminated water is consumed , it diffuses and irradiates the stomach wall , exposing it to radiation . The study found that both lung epithelial cells and stomach lining cells are affected , as the mean annual dose gained through inhalation is almost the same as that obtained through consumption , indicating that both lung epithelial cells and stomach lining cells are prone to risk ( Sukanya et al ., 2021 ). The average ingestion dose per individual and the inhalation dose were both lower than the required limit of 10 3 mSv . y �1 , as established by UNSCEAR in 2000 ( UNSCEAR , 2000 ). Additionally , the combined mean effective dose was less than the recommended maximum value set by the WHO for 2011 ( WHO , 2011 ). The study also revealed that the radon concentrations in the water sources and locations within the study area were within the stochastic range . This indicates that there are minimal health risks and a low probability of developing cancer due to the exposure to radon . The study compares the effective dose rates resulting from ingestion , inhalation , and total effective dose rates from water samples with previous studies worldwide , as shown in Table 2 . The study found that lower effective dose rates for ingestion were reported in Pakistan , Turkey , the Iwaraja-Ifewara faults in southwestern Nigeria , India , and the Qassim area of Saudi Arabia , higher values were reported only in Venezuela . Additionally , lower inhalation values were reported in India and Turkey , at the same time , the Iwaraja-Ifewara faults in southwestern Nigeria showed a higher value , whereas the value in Qassim area in Saudi Arabia showed a nearly