Dose evaluation and measurement of radon concentration in some drinking water sources of the Ramsar region in Iran

Abstract

Ramsar is one of the highest background radiation areas in the world, whose natural radioactivity is due to ²³⁸U natural series and its decay products, especially ²²⁶Ra and ²²⁰Rn, which have been brought to the surface by water of hot springs. In this study, radon concentration in 14 drinking water sources of the Ramsar region has been measured with the PRASSI system. The results show all of the water supplies have radon concentration greater than 10kBq/m³ as normal level. Moreover, the estimated mean annual radiation dose to public due to waterborne radon has also been evaluated.

Keywords:

• annual radon dose
• ionogenic radiation exposure
• Iran
• PRASSI system
• Ramsar region; radon-220
• radon-222
• water