ASSESSMENT OF ANNUAL EFFECTIVE DOSE DUE TO INHALATION AND INGESTION OF RADON FROM GROUNDWATER AT THE SOUTHEAST COASTAL AREA, BANGLADESH

Abstract

Naturally occurring radon-222 was evaluated for its use in estimating annual effective dose exposure in groundwater samples of the southeast coastal area of Bangladesh. On-site radon concentration was measured in groundwater using AlphaGUARD PQ2000 PRO (Saphymo, Germany) radon monitor. The measured values range 0.36-15.70 Bq per l, which lies within the safe limit of 4-40 Bq per l recommended by UNSCEAR. On the contrary, few samples show radon concentration above the safe limit of 11.1 Bq per l recommended by USEPA. The mean annual effective doses due to ingestion and inhalation resulting from radon in groundwater vary from 0.99 to 42.87 μSv per y with an average value of 12.45 μSv per y, which is far below the safe limit 100 μSv per y recommended by WHO and EU. Results reveal that there is no significant public health hazard due to radon ingestion and inhalation from groundwater in the study area.