An Evaluation of Radon in Drinking Water Supplies in Major Cities of the Province of Chimborazo, Central Andes of Ecuador
The activity concentrations of <sup>222</sup>Rn were measured in 53 public water supplies of underground (50) and surface (3) origin, and the relation of such with five geological units where these supplies are located, in the central Ecuadorian Andes, was also explored. These units supp...
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MDPI AG
2023-06-01
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| Series: | Water |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/15/12/2255 |
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| author | Jheny Orbe José Luis Herrera-Robalino Gabriela Ureña-Callay Jonatan Telenchano-Ilbay Shirley Samaniego-León Augusto Fienco-Bacusoy Andrea Cando-Veintimilla Theofilos Toulkeridis |
| author_facet | Jheny Orbe José Luis Herrera-Robalino Gabriela Ureña-Callay Jonatan Telenchano-Ilbay Shirley Samaniego-León Augusto Fienco-Bacusoy Andrea Cando-Veintimilla Theofilos Toulkeridis |
| author_sort | Jheny Orbe |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The activity concentrations of <sup>222</sup>Rn were measured in 53 public water supplies of underground (50) and surface (3) origin, and the relation of such with five geological units where these supplies are located, in the central Ecuadorian Andes, was also explored. These units supply drinking water to 10 cities, located between the 1500 and 3120 m.a.s.l. The experimental setup consisted of the RAD7 radon detector and the RAD H<sub>2</sub>O degassing system. The <sup>222</sup>Rn levels measured in groundwater ranged from 0.53 to 14.78 Bq/L while surface waters did not indicate detectable radon levels. The radon concentrations were below the parametric value of 100 Bq/L for water intended for human consumption, recommended by the European Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM) in its Directive 2013/51, and the alternative maximum contamination level (AMCL) of 150 Bq/L, proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Pisayambo Volcanic unit, mapped as intermediate volcaniclastic to felsic deposits, presented a mean radon concentration higher than the other geological units and lithologies (9.58 ± 3.04 Bq/L). The Cunupogyo well (11.36 ± 0.48 Bq/L) presented a radon concentration more than 70% higher than the neighboring springs, which may be explained by its proximity to the Pallatanga geological fault. The maximum annual effective doses, by cities, due to the ingestion and inhalation of radon, ranged from 0.010 to 0.108 mSv and from 0.008 to 0.091 mSv, respectively; therefore, these waters do not represent a risk to the health of the population. In addition, a correlation was observed between the activity concentration of <sup>222</sup>Rn and the activity concentration of the parent <sup>226</sup>Ra in samples collected from some springs. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T01:49:04Z |
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| id | doaj.art-6d7b0acee35b43fdb2f4dad643e7dba9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4441 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T01:49:04Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Water |
| spelling | doaj.art-6d7b0acee35b43fdb2f4dad643e7dba92023-11-18T13:05:28ZengMDPI AGWater2073-44412023-06-011512225510.3390/w15122255An Evaluation of Radon in Drinking Water Supplies in Major Cities of the Province of Chimborazo, Central Andes of EcuadorJheny Orbe0José Luis Herrera-Robalino1Gabriela Ureña-Callay2Jonatan Telenchano-Ilbay3Shirley Samaniego-León4Augusto Fienco-Bacusoy5Andrea Cando-Veintimilla6Theofilos Toulkeridis7Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo (ESPOCH), Riobamba 060101, EcuadorEscuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo (ESPOCH), Riobamba 060101, EcuadorEscuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo (ESPOCH), Riobamba 060101, EcuadorCentro de Imagen Castro Sanchez Cindy Mireya, Riobamba 060110, EcuadorColegio de Bachillerato Bernardo Dávalos León, Riobamba 060104, EcuadorUnidad Educativa República del Ecuador, Jipijapa 130301, EcuadorUniversidad de Alicante, 03690 Alicante, SpainUniversidad de las Fuerzas Armadas ESPE, Av. General Rumiñahui S/N, Sangolquí 171103, EcuadorThe activity concentrations of <sup>222</sup>Rn were measured in 53 public water supplies of underground (50) and surface (3) origin, and the relation of such with five geological units where these supplies are located, in the central Ecuadorian Andes, was also explored. These units supply drinking water to 10 cities, located between the 1500 and 3120 m.a.s.l. The experimental setup consisted of the RAD7 radon detector and the RAD H<sub>2</sub>O degassing system. The <sup>222</sup>Rn levels measured in groundwater ranged from 0.53 to 14.78 Bq/L while surface waters did not indicate detectable radon levels. The radon concentrations were below the parametric value of 100 Bq/L for water intended for human consumption, recommended by the European Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM) in its Directive 2013/51, and the alternative maximum contamination level (AMCL) of 150 Bq/L, proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Pisayambo Volcanic unit, mapped as intermediate volcaniclastic to felsic deposits, presented a mean radon concentration higher than the other geological units and lithologies (9.58 ± 3.04 Bq/L). The Cunupogyo well (11.36 ± 0.48 Bq/L) presented a radon concentration more than 70% higher than the neighboring springs, which may be explained by its proximity to the Pallatanga geological fault. The maximum annual effective doses, by cities, due to the ingestion and inhalation of radon, ranged from 0.010 to 0.108 mSv and from 0.008 to 0.091 mSv, respectively; therefore, these waters do not represent a risk to the health of the population. In addition, a correlation was observed between the activity concentration of <sup>222</sup>Rn and the activity concentration of the parent <sup>226</sup>Ra in samples collected from some springs.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/15/12/2255<sup>222</sup>Ra<sup>226</sup>Raspring waterannual effective dosesdrinking waterEcuador |
| spellingShingle | Jheny Orbe José Luis Herrera-Robalino Gabriela Ureña-Callay Jonatan Telenchano-Ilbay Shirley Samaniego-León Augusto Fienco-Bacusoy Andrea Cando-Veintimilla Theofilos Toulkeridis An Evaluation of Radon in Drinking Water Supplies in Major Cities of the Province of Chimborazo, Central Andes of Ecuador Water <sup>222</sup>Ra <sup>226</sup>Ra spring water annual effective doses drinking water Ecuador |
| title | An Evaluation of Radon in Drinking Water Supplies in Major Cities of the Province of Chimborazo, Central Andes of Ecuador |
| title_full | An Evaluation of Radon in Drinking Water Supplies in Major Cities of the Province of Chimborazo, Central Andes of Ecuador |
| title_fullStr | An Evaluation of Radon in Drinking Water Supplies in Major Cities of the Province of Chimborazo, Central Andes of Ecuador |
| title_full_unstemmed | An Evaluation of Radon in Drinking Water Supplies in Major Cities of the Province of Chimborazo, Central Andes of Ecuador |
| title_short | An Evaluation of Radon in Drinking Water Supplies in Major Cities of the Province of Chimborazo, Central Andes of Ecuador |
| title_sort | evaluation of radon in drinking water supplies in major cities of the province of chimborazo central andes of ecuador |
| topic | <sup>222</sup>Ra <sup>226</sup>Ra spring water annual effective doses drinking water Ecuador |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/15/12/2255 |
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