Journal Article

Radiological Risk Assessment for Karstic Springs Used as Drinking Water in Rural Romania

Cucoș, Alexandra Laura, Moldovan, Oana Teodora, Moldovan, Mircea Claudiu, Dicu, Tiberius, Burghele, Bety Denissa

2021

Overview

Seasonal variations of the radon and radium activity concentrations in karstic water sources originating in karstic formations were investigated as part of a premiere systematic survey conducted in Romania. A database including a total of 228 drinking water samples collected from 30 distinct water sources adjacent to rural communities was compiled. The radon and radium activity concentrations for all seasons, assessed based on solid scintillation, ranged from 2.1 to 19.7 Bq/L and from 0.6 to 3.0 Bq/L, respectively. Overall, the detected radon and radium contents did not exceed the radioprotection standards recommended by national and European legislation. However, in at least one season, the measured values for 31% of the samples exceeded the 11.1 Bq/L maximum contaminant level for radon in drinking water recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency of the United States. The associated radiological risk, reported in terms of annual effective dose, was calculated to be between 9.8 × 10−6 and 6.0 × 10−5 mSv/y for radon and between 5.9 × 10−5 and 2.7 × 10−4 mSv/y for radium, which are considerably below the WHO (World Health Organization) guidelines at a value of 0.1 mSv/y.

• Publisher: MDPI AG
• Subject: Aquifers / Contaminants / Dosimetry / Drinking water / Environmental protection / Equilibrium / Groundwater discharge / Karst / karstic springs / Laboratories / Legislation / Radiation / Radiation protection / Radium / Radon / Radon content / Risk assessment / Rural areas / Rural communities / Seasonal variation / Seasonal variations / Seasons / Surveying / Water analysis / Water sampling / Water shortages / Water sources / Water springs