Annual effective dose estimation of radon in drinking water sources of Nizampur basin, North Western Pakistan

ABSTRACT

This study assessed radon (²²²Rn) levels in drinking water sources in the Nizampur basin and their potential health risks for the local community. We analyzed 48 water samples on-site using RAD7. Additionally, we measured pH, temperature (T), total dissolved solids (TDS), redox potential (ORP), and electrical conductivity (EC) with a multiparameter analyzer. Results showed pH, T, TDS, ORP, and EC ranging from 7.2 to 8, 17 to 26 °C, 333 to 1130 mg/l, –56 to 284 mV, and 469 to 2370 µS/cm. ²²²Rn levels varied significantly (0.7–107 Bq/l, mean 23 ± 21, median = 17 Bq/l), with about 65 % exceeding the EPA's limit of 11.1 Bq/l, indicating health risks likely due to local geological conditions. The annual effective doses for ingestion (Ew_Ing) were 0.87 ± 0.01, 0.35 ± 0.006, and 0.13 ± 0.002 µSv/a for adults, infants, and children, respectively. Exposure risk via the inhalation (Ew_Inh) route ranged from 1.75 to 270 µSv/a, with the highest risk in infants, followed by children and adults. Inhalation was the primary exposure route for all age groups. Further, spatial distribution maps and hotspot analysis suggested that the central region characterized by high structural deformation and favorable geology for radon emanation was the area of concern in terms of health risks.

KEYWORDS:

• Annual effective doses
• drinking water
• groundwater
• hotspot analysis
• natural radioactivity
• Nizampur basin
• radon-222
• spatial variation

Acknowledgments

The authors are deeply indebted to the Higher Education Commission, Pakistan, and the National Centre of Excellence in Geology, University of Peshawar.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability

The data collected for this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.