Age-Specific Radiological Risk of 222Rn in Drinking Water Wells Along the Sultandağı Fault Zone (Türkiye): A One-Year Monitoring Study.
This one-year monitoring study measured radon-222 in 15 drinking-water wells along Türkiye’s Sultandağı Fault and estimated generally low radiological risks, with higher calculated dose and excess lifetime cancer risk for infants than for children or adults.
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This one-year monitoring study measured radon-222 in 15 drinking-water wells along Türkiye’s Sultandağı Fault and estimated generally low radiological risks, with higher calculated dose and excess lifetime cancer risk for infants than for children or adults.
Research significance
The study provides no therapeutic evidence; at most, its monitoring results support the inference that targeted surveillance or remediation of unusually high-radon wells could reduce pediatric radiation exposure, but effects on cancer incidence or clinical outcomes were not tested.
Source abstract
Background: Radon in drinking water is a potential source of ionizing radiation exposure, yet long-term monitoring data from active tectonic regions remain limited. This study investigated 222Rn activity concentrations in drinking-water wells along the Sultandağı Fault (Afyonkarahisar, Türkiye) and assessed age-dependent radiological risks. Methods:222Rn concentrations were measured at two-week intervals in 15 drinking-water wells between June 2021 and June 2022 using a WG-1001 water-gas separation system and an AB-5R radiation monitor. Annual effective dose (AED) and excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) were calculated for infants, children, and adults. Results:222Rn concentrations ranged from 0.05 to 26.64 Bq L-1, with a mean of 6.12 ± 2.79 Bq L-1. Only one well exceeded the USEPA guideline level (11.1 Bq L-1), whereas all measurements remained below the WHO reference level (100 Bq L-1). Seasonal mean concentrations varied between 5.48 ± 2.53 and 7.08 ± 3.32 Bq L-1. Mean AED values were 35.94, 13.17, and 15.63 μSv y-1 for infants, children, and adults, respectively. Corresponding ELCR values were 1.26 × 10-4, 0.46 × 10-4, and 0.55 × 10-4. Conclusions: The results indicate generally low radiological risk from radon in drinking water within the study area, although elevated values were observed in some wells. Higher age-specific dose and risk estimates were obtained for infants. These findings provide long-term data on groundwater 222Rn variability in an active fault zone and support regional radiological risk assessment.