Measurement of Radon Gas Concentrations in Tap Water Samples for Thi-Qar Governorate Using Nuclear Track Detector (CR-39)

Liath Ahmed Najam¹, Hazim Louis Mansour², Nada Fadhil Tawfiq³, Mahmood Salim Karim²

¹Department of Physics, College of Science, University of Mosul, Mosul, Iraq.
²Department of Physics, College of Education, Al-Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, Iraq.
³Department of Physics, College of Science, Al-Nahrain University, Baghdad, Iraq.

DOI: 10.4236/detection.2016.41001                

Abstract

In the present work, we have measured the radon gas concentrations in tap water samples are taken directly from drinking tap water in sites houses being carried in Thi-Qar governorate by using nuclear track detector (CR-39). The results of measurements have shown that the highest average radon concentration in water samples is found in AL-Refai region which is equal to (0.223 ± 0.03 Bq/L), while the lowest average radon gas concentration is found in AL-Fajr region which is equal to (0.108 ± 0.01 Bq/L), with an average value of (0.175 ± 0.03 Bq/L). The highest value of annual effective dose (AED) in tap water samples is found in AL-Refai region, which is equal to (0.814 μSv/y), while the lowest value of (AED) is found in AL-Fajr region which is equal to (0.394 μSv/y), with an average value of (0.640 ± 0.1 μSv/y). The present results have shown that radon gas concentrations in tap water samples are less than the recommended international value (11.1 Bq/L). There for tap water in all the studied sites in Thi-Qar governorate is safe as for as radon concentration being concerned.

Keywords

Radon, Solid State Nuclear Track Detectors, CR-39, Radon in Water

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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