Investigating Radon Concentration in Groundwater and Seawater in the Eastern Coast of India

Abstract

The eastern coast of India, particularly near the Rushikulya River Bay, has several industries, port and urban settlements, which makes it important to study the dissolved radon concentration in the groundwater as well as in the seawater of this area. In the present study, 20 samples (9 groundwater and 11 seawater samples) were analysed using the AlphaGUARD radon monitor for the naturally occurring ²²²Rn. The study reveals that radon concentration in the groundwater is higher, which varies between 631 and 3142 Bq m⁻³ in comparison with the radon concentration in coastal waters that have a range between 160 and 289 Bq m⁻³. The difference in the concentration of radon in the shallow groundwater and the seawater shows that proper accounting for radon in the system will lead to quantification of the submarine groundwater discharge in this coastal region.