Aug 2026· Radiochimica Acta· 0 citations· 60 references
Abstract
Abstract Naturally occurring radon in groundwater represents a significant public health concern due to exposure through both ingestion and inhalation. This study investigated radon concentrations across 30 groundwater samples collected from northeastern Iraq, together with associated physicochemical parameters and radiological risk assessments. Measured radon concentrations spanned from 2.9 to 29.7 Bq L−1, with a mean of 12.5 Bq L−1. Approximately 43.3 % of the sampled sites exceeded the USEPA guideline, whereas all concentrations remained below the WHO and UNSCEAR limits. Radiological health risk indicators, including annual effective dose via ingestion and inhalation pathways and excess lifetime cancer risk, were evaluated across three different age groups. Although the overall total annual effective dose remained beneath the WHO recommended limit of 0.1 mSv y−1, infants recorded higher dose values than both children and adults, with five sampling locations surpassing this threshold specifically for the infant group. Excess lifetime cancer risk estimates across all age categories fell within USEPA acceptable boundaries. Pearson correlation, skewness, kurtosis, and Shapiro-Wilk statistical tests were applied to examine relationships between radon levels and water quality indicators. Findings highlight the need for targeted mitigation interventions, continuous environmental monitoring, and community awareness initiatives to reduce long-term waterborne radon health risks.
Analysis of indoor radon levels and associated health risk parameters was carried out in residential areas of Obio-Akpor Local Government Area, Rivers State, Nigeria. Indoor radon concentrations were measured using a Corentium Arthings digital radon detector over a monitoring period of 60 days. Geographical coordinates of each sampling location were recorded using a handheld GPS device. A total of ten houses were sampled across three major communities, resulting in 30 sample points. In Eneka, radon concentration ranged from 2 − 30 Bq m⁻³, with an annual effective dose rate ranged from 0.050576 − 0.758640 mSv/yr. The excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) over 70 years ranged from 0.177− 2.301. In Rumuokwurshi, radon concentration ranged from 3 − 19 Bq m⁻³, the annual effective dose varied from 0.075864 − 0.480472 mSv/yr, and the ELCR ranged from 0.266− 1.682. In Elimgbu, radon levels ranged from 2 − 102 Bq m⁻³, annual effective dose ranged from 0.05058 − 2.57938 mSv/yr, and ELCR ranged from 0.177 − 3.869. The indoor radon concentrations and dose rates are within the ICRP recommended safety limits, but the calculated ELCR values indicate a need for awareness and mitigation strategies to reduce long-term health risks.
Diamond George, M. Briggs-kamara, Chinoye Amakiri Raymond· Nigerian Journal of Physics· 0 citations
Groundwater is the principal drinking-water source on Nigerian university campuses, yet its radiological quality, and the age-differentiated radon doses delivered to the students, staff and resident children who depend on it, remains largely uncharacterised, and no comparative campus-scale assessment exists for the semi-arid basement terrain of Katsina State. This study assessed radon gas concentration and associated radiological health risks in drinking water samples collected from three universities in Katsina State, Nigeria: Federal University Dutsin-Ma (FUDMA), Umaru Musa Yar'adua University, Katsina (UMYU), and Federal University of Transportation Daura (FUTD). A total of 30 water samples were analyzed for radon activity concentration, and the annual effective doses (AED) due to inhalation and ingestion were calculated for adults, children, and infants. Total annual effective doses (TAED) and excess lifetime cancer risks (ELCR) were also determined. Radon concentrations ranged from 10−4 to 1.14×10−1 Bq L−1 at FUDMA, 8×10−3 to 1.875 Bq L−1 at UMYU, and 6.1×10−2 to 12.964 Bq L−1 at FUTD, with mean values of 1.58×10−2, 6.81×10−1, and 4.501 Bq L−1, respectively. All mean concentrations were below the WHO/UNSCEAR safe limit of 11 Bq L−1. However, the Admin Block at FUTD recorded 12.964 Bq L−1, slightly exceeding this threshold. The mean TAED values remained well below the ICRP reference level of 0.1 mSv yr−1 across all institutions, though FUTD's Admin Block slightly exceeded this limit (0.198 mSv yr−1 for infants). ELCR values were generally within acceptable EPA ranges (10−6–10−4), except at FUTD's Admin Block where infant ingestion risk reached 6.61×10−4, nearing the upper bound of acceptability. Infants consistently exhibited the highest doses and cancer risks across all sites, followed by children and adults. The findings indicate that while most water sources are radiologically safe, localized hotspots, particularly at FUTD require continuous monitoring.
Namadi A.Z., Lawal A.U., Kado S. et al.· Journal of Basics and Applie...· 0 citations
This study aimed to measure radon concentration in Djiri River water and to evaluate the associated equivalent doses, effective doses, and lifetime cancer mortality risks for the population of Brazzaville, Republic of Congo. Radon concentration was measured in 29 water samples collected from the Djiri River using an AlphaGUARD PQ2000 PRO radon detector. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles were evaluated for sample storage in order to estimate radon losses during storage. To enable a direct comparison with the National Research Council (1999) reference values, the estimated cancer mortality risks were normalized to the same reference radon concentration. Measured radon concentrations ranged from 0.23 to 0.73 Bq/L, with a mean value of 0.425±0.12 Bq/L (equivalent to 425±120 Bq/m³). These concentrations are low and indicate that radiation exposure through drinking water ingestion is minimal under the investigated conditions. The estimated annual effective doses from water ingestion were 5.37×10⁻6 mSv/year for infants, 4.45×10⁻3 mSv/year for 1-year-old children, 2.03×10⁻3 mSv/year for 5-year-old children, 1.18×10⁻3 mSv/year for 10-year-old children, 4.38×10⁻6 mSv/year for 15-year-old children, and 4.02×10⁻3 mSv/year for adults. All estimated doses remained well below the World Health Organization guideline value of 0.1 mSv/year for drinking water. The estimated lifetime cancer mortality risks for males, females, and the total population were 6.35×10⁻7, 9.45×10⁻7, and 7.68×10⁻7, respectively. After normalization to the same radon concentration, these estimates were consistent with the projections reported by the National Research Council (1999). Although the estimated doses and risks are very low and do not indicate a significant radiological health concern, the results support periodic monitoring of radon in the Djiri River as part of routine environmental and public health surveillance.
Guy Romuald Mossa Efouka, J. Bazoma, R. M. Moubakou Diahou et al.· Carpathian Journal of Earth...· 0 citations
Radon (222Rn) is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that constitutes one of the major contributors to natural background radiation exposure and poses significant health risks to humans. Although alpha particles emitted by radon cannot penetrate the skin, inhalation of radon released from water during domestic activities and ingestion of radon-contaminated drinking water may increase the risks of lung and gastrointestinal cancers. This study assessed the concentration of 222Rn and the associated radiological health risks in drinking water obtained from selected communities in Birnin Kudu Local Government Area, Jigawa State, Nigeria. Eight water samples, comprising four borehole and four hand-dug well samples, were collected from four locations and analyzed using a Liquid Scintillation Counter (Tri-Carb LSA-1000) at the Centre for Energy Research and Training, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. The mean radon concentrations were 16.48 Bq/L for hand-dug well water and 16.23 Bq/L for borehole water. These values exceed the guideline limits of 10 Bq/L recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and 11.1 Bq/L recommended by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). The estimated annual effective doses due to inhalation remained below the recommended safety limits for all age groups, whereas the annual effective doses due to ingestion and the corresponding excess lifetime cancer risks exceeded the recommended values. These findings indicate that the investigated water sources may pose potential health risks if consumed without treatment. Therefore, appropriate water treatment and routine radiological monitoring are recommended to minimize radon exposure and protect public health.
Aminu Abubakar, Best Ordinioha, Abdulhadi Sale Kumurya et al.· Journal of Basics and Applie...· 0 citations
The results highlight fine-scale pollution variability not captured by regulatory monitors and underscore the need for spatially resolved assessments to guide public health interventions.
Abdulrahman N Alobireed, S. Totoni, L. Wigington et al.· Environmental science and po...· 0 citations
Radon-222 (222Rn) in groundwater is a potential source of internal radiation exposure through
ingestion, particularly in regions where groundwater constitutes a major source of drinking
water. This study presents an assessment of 222Rn concentrations, radiological risks, and
measurement uncertainties in groundwater within Kubwa, Abuja, Nigeria, using liquid
scintillation counting. Thirty groundwater samples collected during the peak dry season were
analysed using a calibrated Tri-Carb 1000 TR liquid scintillation analyser, with corrections for
radioactive decay and partitioning effects. The 222Rn concentrations ranged from below the
detection limit to 2.30 Bq L⁻¹, with a mean of 0.29 ± 0.43 Bq L⁻¹. Estimated annual effective
doses were of the order of 10⁻³ mSv y⁻¹, well below the recommended reference level of 0.1
mSv y⁻¹. Expanded relative uncertainties (k = 2) ranged from approximately 6% for higheractivity samples to over 20% for samples near the detection limit. The results indicate a very
low radiological risk from 222Rn ingestion through groundwater and provide baseline data for
the study area. The findings also demonstrate the importance of considering detection limits
and measurement uncertainty in environmental radioactivity assessments.
B. C. Nwankwo, Y. V. Ibrahim· Physics Access· 0 citations