222Rn in public water supply and risk estimate of cancer in the metropolitan area from Recife, Brazil

Abstract

The metropolitan area of Recife is characterised by high population density. Owing to the lack of radiometric assessments in public water supply, this work was designed to determine 222Rn concentration in public water supply samples of the metropolitan area from Recife with high natural radiation in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil. To determine 222Rn concentrations the technique of liquid scintillation was employed. The samples showed concentrations ranging from 5 Bq l−1 to 84 Bq l−1. In this report, the results and the radiation-induced health effects are presented as well as discussed.