TITLE:
Factors Influencing Radon (222Ra) Levels of Water: An International Comparison
AUTHORS:
M. Nagaraja, A. Sukumar, V. Dhanalakshmi, S. Rajashekara
KEYWORDS:
Water Radon, Status Comparison, Influencing Factors, Urban and Rural Exposure
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection,
Vol.7 No.5,
May
23,
2019
ABSTRACT: Radon levels were measured in 59 water samples of
rural and urban places of Bangalore city following procedures of standardized
techniques. Though water level of radon above 100 Bqll-1 of WHO is ascribed to causes of lung cancer and
leukaemia, very low levels were found in different urban and rural places, but
urban-rural gradient observed significantly higher urban levels than rural
levels. Correlation between depth of water sampled and radon levels estimated
indicates that in urban places, lower water depth is related to higher radon
levels, while it is vice versa in rural. It is due to more water use for rural
agriculture and more urban water pollution and granite quarries. In comparison
to other countries, it is observed that water radon levels are at wide ranges
from the lowest to the highest estimated with different techniques and differ
due to types of water, soil, rocks and sampling season.