Assessment of radon concentration in groundwater and its human health implications: a case study of Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India.

IF 3.8 3区环境科学与生态学 Q3 ENGINEERING, ENVIRONMENTAL

Environmental Geochemistry and Health Pub Date : 2025-07-06 DOI:10.1007/s10653-025-02612-8

Sushanta Kumar Sahoo, Bala Chandar Perumal, Rema Vaishali, Ashok Maripireddy, Madhusudhanarao Katlamudi

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Abstract

Radon in water poses a health risk, principally through the inhalation of radon gas emitted during drinking of water, increasing the risk of lung cancer. Long-term ingestion of radon-contaminated water may slightly increase the risk of internal organ cancers. This study aims to evaluate radon-222 (²²²Rn) contamination in groundwater to assess the safety of drinking water in and around Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India. A total of 243 water samples were collected across an area of approximately 3000 km² and analyzed using the RAD7 device. Radon concentrations in the samples ranged from 0.06 to 8.31 Bq/L, with an average value of 2.19 Bq/L. The survey indicated higher radon concentrations in groundwater in the southeast region of the study area compared to the northwest, potentially influenced by fly ash dumping from the Gandhinagar thermal power plant and the presence of river channels in the southeast. In addition to radon, physicochemical parameters such as potential of hydrogen (pH) and total dissolved solids (TDS) were also measured, with pH values ranging from 7.0 to 8.4 and TDS levels between 400 and 1840 ppm. However, cross-correlation analysis showed no significant relationship between radon concentrations and either pH or TDS. The depth to the water level of the bore wells, ranging from 400 to 1000 feet with an average of 712 feet, was analyzed to assess its impact on radon contamination. A negative correlation was observed between bore well depth and radon concentration, likely due to the reduced influence of basement rocks in the presence of thick sedimentary deposits (3-4 km) in the region. Radiological risk assessments, based on dose rate calculations for various population groups, identified infants as receiving the highest dose rates. The annual effective dose at all sites was below the WHO-recommended limit of 100 µSv/year, reflecting that there is no major carcinogenic risk posed by radon levels to Gandhinagar's population.

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地下水中氡浓度的评估及其对人类健康的影响：以印度古吉拉特邦甘地那加尔为例。

水中的氡对健康构成威胁，主要是通过吸入饮水时排放的氡气，从而增加患肺癌的风险。长期饮用受氡污染的水可能会略微增加患内脏癌症的风险。本研究旨在评价地下水中氡-222 （222Rn）的污染，以评估印度古吉拉特邦甘地纳加尔及其周边地区的饮用水安全性。在大约3000平方公里的区域内共收集了243个水样，并使用RAD7设备进行了分析。样品中氡浓度范围为0.06 ~ 8.31 Bq/L，平均值为2.19 Bq/L。调查显示，研究区的东南部地区地下水中的氡浓度高于西北部，这可能受到甘地纳加尔热电厂倾倒的飞灰和东南部存在的河道的影响。除氡外，还测量了物理化学参数，如氢电位（pH）和总溶解固体（TDS）， pH值范围为7.0至8.4，TDS水平为400至1840 ppm。然而，交叉相关分析显示，氡浓度与pH和TDS均无显著关系。分析了钻孔到水位的深度，范围从400英尺到1000英尺，平均为712英尺，以评估其对氡污染的影响。在钻孔深度和氡浓度之间观察到负相关关系，这可能是由于在该地区存在厚沉积矿床（3-4公里）的情况下，基底岩石的影响减小。根据对不同人群的剂量率计算进行的放射风险评估确定，婴儿接受的剂量率最高。所有地点的年有效剂量均低于世卫组织建议的100 μ西沃特/年限值，反映出氡水平对甘地纳加尔人口不构成重大致癌风险。

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来源期刊

Environmental Geochemistry and Health 环境科学-工程：环境

CiteScore

8.00

自引率

4.80%

发文量

279

审稿时长

4.2 months

期刊介绍： Environmental Geochemistry and Health publishes original research papers and review papers across the broad field of environmental geochemistry. Environmental geochemistry and health establishes and explains links between the natural or disturbed chemical composition of the earth’s surface and the health of plants, animals and people. Beneficial elements regulate or promote enzymatic and hormonal activity whereas other elements may be toxic. Bedrock geochemistry controls the composition of soil and hence that of water and vegetation. Environmental issues, such as pollution, arising from the extraction and use of mineral resources, are discussed. The effects of contaminants introduced into the earth’s geochemical systems are examined. Geochemical surveys of soil, water and plants show how major and trace elements are distributed geographically. Associated epidemiological studies reveal the possibility of causal links between the natural or disturbed geochemical environment and disease. Experimental research illuminates the nature or consequences of natural or disturbed geochemical processes. The journal particularly welcomes novel research linking environmental geochemistry and health issues on such topics as: heavy metals (including mercury), persistent organic pollutants (POPs), and mixed chemicals emitted through human activities, such as uncontrolled recycling of electronic-waste; waste recycling; surface-atmospheric interaction processes (natural and anthropogenic emissions, vertical transport, deposition, and physical-chemical interaction) of gases and aerosols; phytoremediation/restoration of contaminated sites; food contamination and safety; environmental effects of medicines; effects and toxicity of mixed pollutants; speciation of heavy metals/metalloids; effects of mining; disturbed geochemistry from human behavior, natural or man-made hazards; particle and nanoparticle toxicology; risk and the vulnerability of populations, etc.