Study on Radon Concentration in ground water and Physicochemical parameters of Tumkur industrial areas, Karnataka State, India

Abstract

Received: 19/Mar/2019, Accepted: 13/Apr/2019, Online: 30/Apr/2019 AbstractThe concentration of radon in the ground water around Tumkur industrial areas namely Hirehalli, Antharasanahalli, Satyamangala, and Vasanthanarasapura were measured by emanometry technique. The activity of primordial radionuclides such as Radium ( 226 Ra), Thorium ( 232 Th) and Potassium ( 40 K) in different rock samples of the study area were estimated by HPGe detector based on gamma ray spectrometry. Standard methods have been applied to estimate the physicochemical parameters of the samples. The average value of radon concentration varies from 5.61 Bql -1 to 160.50 Bql -1 with an average value of 75.40 Bql -1 . The total effective dose received by workers and publics due to radon inhalation and ingestion varies from 15.32 μSvy -1 to 438.20 μSvy -1 with an average value of 205.84 μSvy -1 .The average value of primordial radio nuclides such as 226 Ra, 232 Th and 40 K in the rock samples of the study area varies from 20±1.5 to 150±3 Bqkg -1 , 25±0.4 to 200±2.5 Bqkg -1 and 450±4 to 1800±15 Bqkg -1 respectively and their corresponding mean values are 65.6±1.3 Bqkg -1 , 81.8±1.5 Bqkg -1 , and 854.2±12 Bqkg -1 respectively. These values are comparable with global average. The average values of Physico chemical parameter are within the safe level as prescribed by USEPA and WHO. The results shows noteworthy correlation cannot be observed between concentration of radon and physicochemical parameters in water samples in the study area. The radon concentration in ground water mainly depends on the type of aquifers and its mineral compositions.