226Ra and 222Rn activity concentrations and associated effective doses for different age groups in spring water of Harnai, Balochistan.

Abstract

In Harnai, Balochistan, Pakistan, the levels of ²²⁶Ra and ²²²Rn were measured with a high purity germenium (HPGe) detector and a RAD7 detector, respectively, in drinking water. The concentration of ²²²Rn in the spring water under investigation ranged from 2.8 ± 0.59-8.5 ± 0.80 Bq L^-1 with an average of 4.96 ± 0.7 Bq L^-1, while the concentration of ²²⁶Ra varied from 1.36 ± 0.55-6.8 ± 0.99 mBq L^-1 with an average of 3.54 ± 0.74 mBq L^-1. All concentrations of ²²²Rn and ²²⁶Ra were found to be below the global averages of 11.1 Bq L^-1 and 555 mBq L^-1, respectively. There was a positive connection (R² = 0.9398) between the concentrations of ²²²Rn and ²²⁶Ra. There are very weak associations between phyco-chemical characteristics and ²²²Rn and ²²⁶Ra. For various age groups, the estimated annual effective dosages from ingesting of ²²⁶Ra and ²²²Rn were determined to be below the advised threshold of 0.1 mSv y^-1. Based on the results, it has been concluded that the population in the research region is not significantly affected by ²²⁶Ra and ²²²Rn in spring water.