Geographical distribution of radon and associated health risks in drinking water samples collected from the Mulazai area of Peshawar, Pakistan
Abstract Geospatial methods, such as GIS and remote sensing, map radon levels, pinpoint high-risk areas and connect geological traits to radon presence. These findings direct health planning, focusing tests, mitigation, and policies where radon levels are high. Overall, geospatial analyses offer vit...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2024-03-01
|
| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-55017-5 |
| _version_ | 1827316059894448128 |
|---|---|
| author | Syed Samran Ali Shah Abdul Rahim Asif Manzoor Ilahi Haseeb Haroon Ihtisham Islam Adnan Qadir Irfan Nisar Malik Muhammad Usman Sani Rashid Iqbal Muhammed Habib ur Rahman Muhammad Arslan Mona S. Alwahibi Mohamed S. Elshikh Allah Ditta |
| author_facet | Syed Samran Ali Shah Abdul Rahim Asif Manzoor Ilahi Haseeb Haroon Ihtisham Islam Adnan Qadir Irfan Nisar Malik Muhammad Usman Sani Rashid Iqbal Muhammed Habib ur Rahman Muhammad Arslan Mona S. Alwahibi Mohamed S. Elshikh Allah Ditta |
| author_sort | Syed Samran Ali Shah |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Geospatial methods, such as GIS and remote sensing, map radon levels, pinpoint high-risk areas and connect geological traits to radon presence. These findings direct health planning, focusing tests, mitigation, and policies where radon levels are high. Overall, geospatial analyses offer vital insights, shaping interventions and policies to reduce health risks from radon exposure. There is a formidable threat to human well-being posed by the naturally occurring carcinogenic radon (222Rn) gas due to high solubility in water. Under the current scenario, it is crucial to assess the extent of 222Rn pollution in our drinking water sources across various regions and thoroughly investigate the potential health hazards it poses. In this regard, the present study was conducted to investigate the concentration of 222Rn in groundwater samples collected from handpumps and wells and to estimate health risks associated with the consumption of 222Rn-contaminated water. For this purpose, groundwater samples (n = 30) were collected from handpumps, and wells located in the Mulazai area, District Peshawar. The RAD7 radon detector was used as per international standards to assess the concentration of 222Rn in the collected water samples. The results unveiled that the levels of 222Rn in the collected samples exceeded the acceptable thresholds set by the US Environmental Protection Agency (US-EPA) of 11.1 Bq L−1. Nevertheless, it was determined that the average annual dose was below the recommended limit of 0.1 mSv per year, as advised by both the European Union Council and the World Health Organization. In order to avoid the harmful effects of such excessive 222Rn concentrations on human health, proper ventilation and storage of water in storage reservoirs for a long time before use is recommended to lower the 222Rn concentration. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T23:07:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-82650d9634c24c11966d6f270ca04dad |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T23:07:04Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-82650d9634c24c11966d6f270ca04dad2024-03-17T12:24:03ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-03-0114111310.1038/s41598-024-55017-5Geographical distribution of radon and associated health risks in drinking water samples collected from the Mulazai area of Peshawar, PakistanSyed Samran Ali Shah0Abdul Rahim Asif1Manzoor Ilahi2Haseeb Haroon3Ihtisham Islam4Adnan Qadir5Irfan Nisar6Malik Muhammad Usman Sani7Rashid Iqbal8Muhammed Habib ur Rahman9Muhammad Arslan10Mona S. Alwahibi11Mohamed S. Elshikh12Allah Ditta13School of Computing and Engineering, University of West LondonNational Centre of Excellence in Geology, University of PeshawarNational Centre of Excellence in Geology, University of PeshawarNational Centre of Excellence in Geology, University of PeshawarNational Centre of Excellence in Geology, University of PeshawarPakistan Museum of Natural History, Shakarparian National ParkNational Centre of Excellence in Geology, University of PeshawarNational Centre of Excellence in Geology, University of PeshawarDepartment of Agronomy, The Islamia University of BahawalpurAgroecology and Organic Farming Group, Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation, University of BonnAgroecology and Organic Farming Group, Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation, University of BonnDepartment of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud UniversityDepartment of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud UniversityDepartment of Environmental Sciences, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University SheringalAbstract Geospatial methods, such as GIS and remote sensing, map radon levels, pinpoint high-risk areas and connect geological traits to radon presence. These findings direct health planning, focusing tests, mitigation, and policies where radon levels are high. Overall, geospatial analyses offer vital insights, shaping interventions and policies to reduce health risks from radon exposure. There is a formidable threat to human well-being posed by the naturally occurring carcinogenic radon (222Rn) gas due to high solubility in water. Under the current scenario, it is crucial to assess the extent of 222Rn pollution in our drinking water sources across various regions and thoroughly investigate the potential health hazards it poses. In this regard, the present study was conducted to investigate the concentration of 222Rn in groundwater samples collected from handpumps and wells and to estimate health risks associated with the consumption of 222Rn-contaminated water. For this purpose, groundwater samples (n = 30) were collected from handpumps, and wells located in the Mulazai area, District Peshawar. The RAD7 radon detector was used as per international standards to assess the concentration of 222Rn in the collected water samples. The results unveiled that the levels of 222Rn in the collected samples exceeded the acceptable thresholds set by the US Environmental Protection Agency (US-EPA) of 11.1 Bq L−1. Nevertheless, it was determined that the average annual dose was below the recommended limit of 0.1 mSv per year, as advised by both the European Union Council and the World Health Organization. In order to avoid the harmful effects of such excessive 222Rn concentrations on human health, proper ventilation and storage of water in storage reservoirs for a long time before use is recommended to lower the 222Rn concentration.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-55017-5RadonInhalationIngestionSpatial distributionHealth risk assessment |
| spellingShingle | Syed Samran Ali Shah Abdul Rahim Asif Manzoor Ilahi Haseeb Haroon Ihtisham Islam Adnan Qadir Irfan Nisar Malik Muhammad Usman Sani Rashid Iqbal Muhammed Habib ur Rahman Muhammad Arslan Mona S. Alwahibi Mohamed S. Elshikh Allah Ditta Geographical distribution of radon and associated health risks in drinking water samples collected from the Mulazai area of Peshawar, Pakistan Scientific Reports Radon Inhalation Ingestion Spatial distribution Health risk assessment |
| title | Geographical distribution of radon and associated health risks in drinking water samples collected from the Mulazai area of Peshawar, Pakistan |
| title_full | Geographical distribution of radon and associated health risks in drinking water samples collected from the Mulazai area of Peshawar, Pakistan |
| title_fullStr | Geographical distribution of radon and associated health risks in drinking water samples collected from the Mulazai area of Peshawar, Pakistan |
| title_full_unstemmed | Geographical distribution of radon and associated health risks in drinking water samples collected from the Mulazai area of Peshawar, Pakistan |
| title_short | Geographical distribution of radon and associated health risks in drinking water samples collected from the Mulazai area of Peshawar, Pakistan |
| title_sort | geographical distribution of radon and associated health risks in drinking water samples collected from the mulazai area of peshawar pakistan |
| topic | Radon Inhalation Ingestion Spatial distribution Health risk assessment |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-55017-5 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT syedsamranalishah geographicaldistributionofradonandassociatedhealthrisksindrinkingwatersamplescollectedfromthemulazaiareaofpeshawarpakistan AT abdulrahimasif geographicaldistributionofradonandassociatedhealthrisksindrinkingwatersamplescollectedfromthemulazaiareaofpeshawarpakistan AT manzoorilahi geographicaldistributionofradonandassociatedhealthrisksindrinkingwatersamplescollectedfromthemulazaiareaofpeshawarpakistan AT haseebharoon geographicaldistributionofradonandassociatedhealthrisksindrinkingwatersamplescollectedfromthemulazaiareaofpeshawarpakistan AT ihtishamislam geographicaldistributionofradonandassociatedhealthrisksindrinkingwatersamplescollectedfromthemulazaiareaofpeshawarpakistan AT adnanqadir geographicaldistributionofradonandassociatedhealthrisksindrinkingwatersamplescollectedfromthemulazaiareaofpeshawarpakistan AT irfannisar geographicaldistributionofradonandassociatedhealthrisksindrinkingwatersamplescollectedfromthemulazaiareaofpeshawarpakistan AT malikmuhammadusmansani geographicaldistributionofradonandassociatedhealthrisksindrinkingwatersamplescollectedfromthemulazaiareaofpeshawarpakistan AT rashidiqbal geographicaldistributionofradonandassociatedhealthrisksindrinkingwatersamplescollectedfromthemulazaiareaofpeshawarpakistan AT muhammedhabiburrahman geographicaldistributionofradonandassociatedhealthrisksindrinkingwatersamplescollectedfromthemulazaiareaofpeshawarpakistan AT muhammadarslan geographicaldistributionofradonandassociatedhealthrisksindrinkingwatersamplescollectedfromthemulazaiareaofpeshawarpakistan AT monasalwahibi geographicaldistributionofradonandassociatedhealthrisksindrinkingwatersamplescollectedfromthemulazaiareaofpeshawarpakistan AT mohamedselshikh geographicaldistributionofradonandassociatedhealthrisksindrinkingwatersamplescollectedfromthemulazaiareaofpeshawarpakistan AT allahditta geographicaldistributionofradonandassociatedhealthrisksindrinkingwatersamplescollectedfromthemulazaiareaofpeshawarpakistan |