Exploring tectonic sites with radon from groundwater sources and dose evaluation in various age groups in Baramulla, J&K, India

Abstract

Maintaining water quality is essential to protect human health from elevated levels of radon, a water-soluble radioactive gas that can pose serious risks when levels are above safe thresholds. This study evaluated the radon levels in groundwater sources in the Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir using a scintillation-based smart RnDuo detector. The levels of radon showed significant fluctuations, ranging from 19 ± 0.7 to 93 ± 1.5 Bq L⁻¹, with an arithmetic mean of 41.3 ± 1.0 Bq L⁻¹. Notably, 51 % of the samples exceeded the limits set by USEPA (11 Bq L⁻¹) and UNSCEAR (40 Bq L⁻¹), yet all of them remained below the WHO's guideline of 100 Bq L⁻¹. Furthermore, 13 % of the samples exceed 60 Bq L⁻¹. Annual inhalation and ingestion doses vary across age groups surpassing the WHO recommendations for drinking water quality but lying below the UNSCEAR 1000 μSv y⁻¹ suggested levels. Importantly, the mean annual effective dose throughout all age groups falls well below the ICRP range (3–10 mSv y⁻¹). The analysis suggested that radon exposure could lead to 0.52 to 3 excess cancer cases per thousand people, with average values for all age groups remaining less than the permitted value of 1.45 × 10⁻³ as suggested by UNSCEAR. The study also explores physiochemical parameters, aiding future epidemiological studies and fault investigations.