A brief overview on radon measurements in drinking water

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to present information about currently used standard and routine methods for radon analysis in drinking waters. An overview is given about the current situation and the performance of different measurement methods based on literature data. The following parameters are compared and discussed: initial sample volume and sample preparation, detection systems, minimum detectable activity, counting efficiency, interferences, measurement uncertainty, sample capacity and overall turnaround time. Moreover, the parametric levels for radon in drinking water from the different legislations and directives/guidelines on radon are presented.

Radon measurements in well and spring water of the Tuzla area, Bosnia and Herzegovina

“…The radon activity concentrations for dug wells obtained in this study are much lower than, for instance, those ), the values obtained in this study were much lower (22,23).…”

Factors Influencing Radon (<sup>222</sup>Ra) Levels of Water: An International Comparison

“…mountains in Poland, the radon concentration is very low or below the lower limit of detection, whereas concentration higher than 74 Bq/l was found in the spring water (Kozlowska et al, 1999). (Jobbágy et al, 2017), the values detected may vary from one place to another one. Hence, Kelleher et al (2017) pointed out that such inter-laboratory variation in sampling and analytical techniques could be minimized and controlled through participation in the inter-laboratory quality control programmes for water radon analysis.…”

“…Radon concentration is that of water determined by collecting radon gas through the en-ergy specific windows, which eliminate interference and maintain very low backgrounds. Further, the parameters for water have been worked out following the guidelines suggested by others (Gruber et al, 2009;Jobbágy et al, 2017) and thus the radon measurement was standardized.…”

Measurement of radon concentration in drinking water and natural radioactivity in soil and their radiological hazards

“…Uranium, thorium, and actinium are the three naturally occurring radioactive series present in water; among these, uranium radioactive series is dangerous to human health, because it is chemically toxic as well as radiotoxic (Duenas, Fernandez, Carretero, Liger, & Canete, 1999). The concentration of these radioisotopes in water depends on the rock types, presence of faults, variety of minerals present in the rock, porosity-permeability; physicochemical and nature of the geological aquifers (Ball, Cameron, Colman, & Roberts, 1991;Bonotto & Caprioglio, 2002;Choubey & Ramola, 1997;Jobbagy, Altzitzoglou, Malo, Tanner, & Hult, 2017;Lawrence, Poeter, & Wanty, 1991). 226 Ra,228 Ra,and 222 Rn are commonly occurring radionuclides in the water which causes severe health hazards to human health.…”