Generalized Data for 20 Years of Radon-222 Monitoring in Drinking Water of Ukraine (original) (raw)
The paper presents the results of the statistical analysis for 222Rn concentration in drinking water samples taken from artesian wells in different regions of Ukraine during 2003 - 2022. The work was carried out in the radiation monitoring laboratory of the O.M. Marzieiev Institute of Public Health of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine. The periods of averaging the measurement data (three and four years) are related to the requirements of regulatory documents and covering of water samples in the analysis from geographically new, previously unreached territories of Ukraine. Arithmetic mean values and root mean square deviations, as well as geometric mean, median, minimum and maximum values of 222Rn specific activity in 1228 drinking water samples were calculated. The values of the root mean square deviations of the measurement data and alikeness of the median and geometric mean values show the lognormal nature of 222Rn specific activity distribution in the sampling set. It was determined that for 11 % of the tested water samples, 222Rn concentration exceeds the established state standard for drinking water (100 Bq/l). The detected high levels of 222Rn are related to certain areas, where a more detailed study of underground water radioactivity is required in order to develop and implement measures to improve the radiation condition of drinking water. A comparison of the results of analyzing 222Rn concentration in drinking water for 2003-2021 with the data obtained during 1989-1991 indicates their significant difference: for the period of 1989-1991, the arithmetic mean and geometric mean values are significantly higher. This is because the sampling of 1989-1991 was more randomized, held mainly within the Ukrainian crystalline shield and less beyond it. At the same time, the data (2003 to 2021) cover a much larger number of regions, and, in addition, the results of repeated (with a three-year period) 222Rn measurements data for some sources are included in the calculations. In order to determine the radioactive condition of drinking water in Ukraine and in order to minimize public exposure due to its consumption, monitoring of 222Rn content in drinking water for some regions of Ukraine should be extended.
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