Estimation of ambient gamma radiation dose and drinking water radon concentration in coastal taluks of Uttara Kannada district, Karnataka

摘要

This study assesses the ambient gamma dose rate and radon concentration in drinking water at different locations in few coastal taluks of Uttara Kannada district. The ambient gamma dose and Rn-222 activity in drinking water has been estimated by using micro R survey meter and Emanometry technique respectively. The annual effective doses ranges from 0.39 to 0.82 mSvy(-1) with a geometric mean value of 0.55 mSvy(-1) and it is slightly higher than the world average value. Rn-222 activity in drinking water vary from 3.34 +/- 0.22 to 160.18 +/- 1.84 Bql(-1) with mean value of 25.07 +/- 0.86 Bql(-1). Annual average ingestion dose due to consuming water are well below the WHO and EC suggested action level of 100 mu Svy(-1).