Article

Assessment of environmental radioactivity concentration and effective dose rates from radon gas exposure from water samples in Gezira State, Sudan

¹ Department of Physics, Kassala University, P. O. Box 266 Box 266, Sudan
² Department of Physics, College of Science and Arts in Uglat Asugour, Qassim University, Uglat Asugour, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
³ Department of Physics, faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt
⁴ Department of Physical Sciences, College of Science, Jazan University, P.O.Box 114, Jazan 82817, Saudi Arabia

^* Corresponding author: Abdelmoniem1@yahoo.com; 3954@qu.edu.sa

Received: 17 December 2023
Accepted: 24 May 2024

Abstract

A study was conducted in Gezira State, Sudan, to estimate the concentration of radon and the annual effective dose rate in water samples based on inhalation, ingestion, and age group. The study collected 26 samples from different locations. The results showed that the mean concentration of radon was 7.68 ± 1.07 Bq.l⁻¹, and the mean effective dose rate of radon released from water to indoor air was 19.17 ± 2.68 μSv.y⁻¹. The average effective dose rates calculated from ingestion, inhalation, and the total annual effective dose rate were 18.81 ± 2.63, 19.34 ± 2.71, and 38.15 ± 5.34 μSv.y⁻¹, respectively. The annual effective dose rates for infants, children, and adults were calculated to have mean values of 80.60 ± 11.27, 53.73 ± 7.51, and 38.38 ± 5.37 μSv.y⁻¹, respectively. The study found that 23.1% of the samples exceeded the maximum contamination level, while 76.9% were below the reference levels set by the USEPA, WHO, and EU. Despite the increase in radiation dose with age and consumption rates, the radiation dose from water was lower than the recommended limits set by UNSCEAR and WHO. Additionally, the bronchial epithelium received twice the radiation dose compared to the stomach walls.