Radon Concentration in Drinking Water Sources of the University of Babylon /Iraq

Abstract

Radon is a radioactive noble gas of a natural origin. It is worthy to carry out the distribution of radon (222Rn) activity concentration and their annual effective dose exposure in drinking water samples from University of Babylon (100 Km) south of capital Baghdad. Water samples were collected before and after winter season and analyzed using RAD7connected to a RAD-H2O accessory. The measured Radon concentration ranges from (0.072 Bq.L-1) in N7 (Education College) to (0.325 Bq.L-1) in N2 ( Basic Education College) with an mean value of (0.183 Bq.L-1). The measured values of Radon concentration are well in the range within the EPA’s maximum contaminant level of (11.1Bq.L-1). The total annual effective dose resulting from Radon in drinking water were (1.74 Sv.y-1) significantly lower than the (United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation UNSCEAR recommended limit for members of the public of (1 mSv.y-1). Has been chosen this subject of the current study of the importance of water in human life and living, and the lack of previous studies in the study area.