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Assessment of Human Exposure to Dissolved Radon in Groundwater around the Uranium Industry of Jaduguda, Jharkhand, India


Affiliations
1 Health Physics Unit, Environmental Survey Laboratory, Jaduguda, Singbhum (E), Jharkhand 832 102, India
2 Health Physics Division, Environmental Studies Section, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai 400 085, India
 

Measurement of dissolved radon and 226Ra in groundwater was carried out in 30 different locations around the uranium mining and ore processing area of Jaduguda, Jharkhand, India. Activity concentration of 226Ra was found to be very low, whereas dissolved radon was observed to be slightly elevated due to geological features of the area consisting of uranium mineralization. No definite relation was observed between radon and 226Ra in groundwater. The annual dose due to ingestion of radon containing water estimated at 60% locations was less than 100 μSv. The maximum ingestion dose was found to be 300 μSv to adult members of the public. The average dose due to the ingestion of radon in water was 94 μSv, which is less than the stipulated limit of 1000 μSv prescribed by regulatory body.

Keywords

Groundwater, Ingestion Dose, Radon, Uranium Mining.
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  • Assessment of Human Exposure to Dissolved Radon in Groundwater around the Uranium Industry of Jaduguda, Jharkhand, India

Abstract Views: 375  |  PDF Views: 127

Authors

N. K. Sethy
Health Physics Unit, Environmental Survey Laboratory, Jaduguda, Singbhum (E), Jharkhand 832 102, India
V. N. Jha
Health Physics Unit, Environmental Survey Laboratory, Jaduguda, Singbhum (E), Jharkhand 832 102, India
P. M. Ravi
Health Physics Division, Environmental Studies Section, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai 400 085, India
R. M. Tripathi
Health Physics Division, Environmental Studies Section, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai 400 085, India

Abstract


Measurement of dissolved radon and 226Ra in groundwater was carried out in 30 different locations around the uranium mining and ore processing area of Jaduguda, Jharkhand, India. Activity concentration of 226Ra was found to be very low, whereas dissolved radon was observed to be slightly elevated due to geological features of the area consisting of uranium mineralization. No definite relation was observed between radon and 226Ra in groundwater. The annual dose due to ingestion of radon containing water estimated at 60% locations was less than 100 μSv. The maximum ingestion dose was found to be 300 μSv to adult members of the public. The average dose due to the ingestion of radon in water was 94 μSv, which is less than the stipulated limit of 1000 μSv prescribed by regulatory body.

Keywords


Groundwater, Ingestion Dose, Radon, Uranium Mining.



DOI: https://doi.org/10.18520/cs%2Fv109%2Fi10%2F1855-1860