Quantification of radon contamination in drinking water of Rajasthan, India

The current investigation represents the annual effective dose received due to ingestion and inhalation of radon present in drinking water. As radon itself contributes 3–14% towards the total proportion of lung cancer (WHO in Handbook on indoor radon. A public health perspective, World Health Organization, Geneva, 2009). The samples were taken from Sri Ganganagar region of Rajasthan province in India to calculate radon concentration and thereby to study the health risk. Total 100 water samples were taken from different sources of water which have been classified into two different categories as underground water and surface water sources. In-situ measurements of Rn-222 concentration was carried out using scintillation based radon monitor. The values of Rn-222 concentration were found to lie between 0.13 ± 0.04 and 3.74 ± 0.26 BqL−1 with mean value of 0.92 ± 0.12 BqL−1. These values are far below the maximum contamination level of 100 BqL−1, recommended by WHO, 2004 (Guidelines for drinking-water quality, WHO, Geneva, 2004). The ingestion and inhalation doses have been calculated for infants, children and adults from the derived radon concentration. The calculated doses are below the recommended level of 100 µSvy−1 (World Health Organisation in Guidelines for drinking water quality. Health criteria and other information, WHO Press, Geneva, 2003).