Quantifying dissolved radon in drinking water using an augmented method

Radioisotopes in drinking water raise several serious concerns for human health and environment. Surface and underground sources of water contain natural radionuclides in varying levels depending on the geology of the region on earth and their origin. Primordial radionuclide ²²⁶ Ra leaches from the geographical bodies and releases its gaseous progeny radon ( ²²² Rn) into ground water in contact with. Radon in water also originates from dissolution of airborne radon into water and other higher radon bearing water in-flows in the catchment area. Aquatic organism intake radionuclides, which may lead to bioaccumulation, genetic mutations, and reproductive issues in them. It is a well-accepted fact that inhalation of indoor radon and its progeny have significant lung cancer risk for human beings. Ingesting radon-contaminated water may contribute to the development of carcinoma in internal organs, particularly within the gastrointestinal tract. Tap water and shower usage are among the primary sources of indoor radon exposure, as they release radon directly into the household air. Assessing dissolved radon in water is essential for evaluating potential health risks and ensuring environmental safety. We report the results of active measurements conducted using the Rad8 Radon Detector to quantify radon levels in drinking water samples collected from 53 locations in the city of Lae in Papua New Guinea. The method adopted is nascent in its method. The results show that the dissolved radon concentration varies from 3 ± 1 to 44 ± 5 Bq l ^− 1 with an average 24 ± 7 Bq l ^− 1 . Dissolved radon concentrations in majority of samples were between 18 and 32 Bq l ^− 1 . Estimated annual effective dose of radiation from radon exposure due to dissolved radon in water was 0.15 ± 0.04 µSv y ^− 1 which poses no health risk upon consumption.