Radon Levels of Water Sources in the Southwest Coastal Region of Peninsular Malaysia
Across populations, the dominating source of public exposure to radiation is radon gas. In the present study, we aimed at determining the concentration of radon in water sources from the southwest coastal region of Peninsular Malaysia. A total of 27 water samples were taken from various water source...
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MDPI AG
2021-07-01
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| Series: | Applied Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/11/15/6842 |
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| author | Noor Fadilla Ismail Suhairul Hashim Mohamad Syazwan Mohd Sanusi Ahmad Taufek Abdul Rahman David Andrew Bradley |
| author_facet | Noor Fadilla Ismail Suhairul Hashim Mohamad Syazwan Mohd Sanusi Ahmad Taufek Abdul Rahman David Andrew Bradley |
| author_sort | Noor Fadilla Ismail |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Across populations, the dominating source of public exposure to radiation is radon gas. In the present study, we aimed at determining the concentration of radon in water sources from the southwest coastal region of Peninsular Malaysia. A total of 27 water samples were taken from various water sources which included groundwater, as well as hot spring, lake, river, seawater, and tap water; the radon concentrations were measured using a RAD7 portable radon detector. The radon concentrations ranged from 0.07 ± 0.12 to 187 ± 12 Bq l<sup>−1</sup>, with an average of 21 ± 12 Bq l<sup>−1</sup>. The highest concentration was found in hot spring water, with an average concentration of 99 ± 6 Bq l<sup>−1</sup>, while the lowest concentration was found in tap water, with an average concentration of 1.95 ± 0.61 Bq l<sup>−1</sup>. The average concentrations of radon for all categories of sampled water were below the 100 Bq l<sup>−1</sup> WHO guidance level for safe drinking water. According to the ICRP effective dose conversion factor and UNSCEAR (2000), the total effective dose from the summation of inhaled and imbibed water was calculated from the aqueous radon concentrations, with an average effective dose of 4.45 µSv y<sup>−1</sup>, well within the WHO safe drinking water guideline value of 100 µSv per year. The results of this study could support the efforts of authorities and regulators who are responsible for controlling and strategizing to ensure public safety against radon exposures. |
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9eb58337fdf34c1d910800e6e461b213 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:19:03Z |
| publishDate | 2021-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-9eb58337fdf34c1d910800e6e461b2132023-11-22T05:20:26ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172021-07-011115684210.3390/app11156842Radon Levels of Water Sources in the Southwest Coastal Region of Peninsular MalaysiaNoor Fadilla Ismail0Suhairul Hashim1Mohamad Syazwan Mohd Sanusi2Ahmad Taufek Abdul Rahman3David Andrew Bradley4Health Physics Research Group, Department of Radiation Safety and Health, Malaysian Nuclear Agency, Bangi, Kajang 43000, Selangor, MalaysiaDepartment of Physics, Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai 81310, Johor, MalaysiaDepartment of Physics, Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai 81310, Johor, MalaysiaCentre of Astrophysics and Applied Radiation, Institute of Science, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam 40450, Selangor, MalaysiaSchool of Engineering Technology, Sunway University, Bandar Sunway 47500, Selangor, MalaysiaAcross populations, the dominating source of public exposure to radiation is radon gas. In the present study, we aimed at determining the concentration of radon in water sources from the southwest coastal region of Peninsular Malaysia. A total of 27 water samples were taken from various water sources which included groundwater, as well as hot spring, lake, river, seawater, and tap water; the radon concentrations were measured using a RAD7 portable radon detector. The radon concentrations ranged from 0.07 ± 0.12 to 187 ± 12 Bq l<sup>−1</sup>, with an average of 21 ± 12 Bq l<sup>−1</sup>. The highest concentration was found in hot spring water, with an average concentration of 99 ± 6 Bq l<sup>−1</sup>, while the lowest concentration was found in tap water, with an average concentration of 1.95 ± 0.61 Bq l<sup>−1</sup>. The average concentrations of radon for all categories of sampled water were below the 100 Bq l<sup>−1</sup> WHO guidance level for safe drinking water. According to the ICRP effective dose conversion factor and UNSCEAR (2000), the total effective dose from the summation of inhaled and imbibed water was calculated from the aqueous radon concentrations, with an average effective dose of 4.45 µSv y<sup>−1</sup>, well within the WHO safe drinking water guideline value of 100 µSv per year. The results of this study could support the efforts of authorities and regulators who are responsible for controlling and strategizing to ensure public safety against radon exposures.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/11/15/6842radonRAD7radon concentrationeffective doseingestioninhalation |
| spellingShingle | Noor Fadilla Ismail Suhairul Hashim Mohamad Syazwan Mohd Sanusi Ahmad Taufek Abdul Rahman David Andrew Bradley Radon Levels of Water Sources in the Southwest Coastal Region of Peninsular Malaysia Applied Sciences radon RAD7 radon concentration effective dose ingestion inhalation |
| title | Radon Levels of Water Sources in the Southwest Coastal Region of Peninsular Malaysia |
| title_full | Radon Levels of Water Sources in the Southwest Coastal Region of Peninsular Malaysia |
| title_fullStr | Radon Levels of Water Sources in the Southwest Coastal Region of Peninsular Malaysia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Radon Levels of Water Sources in the Southwest Coastal Region of Peninsular Malaysia |
| title_short | Radon Levels of Water Sources in the Southwest Coastal Region of Peninsular Malaysia |
| title_sort | radon levels of water sources in the southwest coastal region of peninsular malaysia |
| topic | radon RAD7 radon concentration effective dose ingestion inhalation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/11/15/6842 |
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