Vol.:(0123456789) 1 3 Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry (2020) 326:1437–1446 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-020-07426-9 Study of radon concentration of drinking water sources in adjacent areas of Sabzevaran fault Mostafa Shamsaddini 1  · Ali Negarestani 2  · Mohammad Malakootian 3  · Neda Javid 3,4 Received: 5 May 2020 / Accepted: 26 September 2020 / Published online: 18 October 2020 © Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest, Hungary 2020 Abstract Radon in potable water increases the absorbable dosage by digestive and respiratory systems. Radon concentration was in the range of 0.92–17.12 Bq L −1 . The maximum total efective dose of lung and stomach was 168.11 µSv y −1 for adults. As much as 0.25% of the population in this area is exposed to high dose of radon. Therefore, aeration of potable water in these regions is recommended before consumption. Keywords 222 Radon · GIS · Sabzevaran fault · RAD7 · Drinking water Introduction Environmental radiation exposure originates from a num- ber of natural and man-made sources [1]. Exposure to radi- ation can occur by eating, inhaling, injecting or absorb- ing radioactive material [2]. Natural radionuclide sources are the main factor of exposure to radiation for human beings and organisms [3]. Of the total radiation sources, approximately 97% are natural sources and only about 3% are artifcial radiation sources [4]. Radon and its decay products are responsible for 50% of natural radioactivity [5]. Radon is found in soil, air and in water sources such as lakes, rivers, springs, groundwater and even rainwater [6]. The movement of ground layers afects the quality and quantity of groundwater aquifers. Folds, faults, and trans- formational structures facilitate radon movement to the groundwater aquifers and earth surface [7]. Radiological hazards may be due to the plentiful amount of radioactive substances in potable water. The most common radioactive substances in potable water are uranium, radium and radon [2]. Radon gas is highly soluble in water. Produced radon in the rock bed goes easily through various layers of soil and rocks and enters the groundwater. Soil, crustal rocks, and groundwater are the major sources of radon emissions [7, 8]. Radon is dissolved in pressurized water easily, so groundwater is one of the sources of radon accumulation [ 1]. Water is one of the important sources of radon in closed environments. The higher amounts of radon in the water lead to increasing radon transfer from water to the air. According to report of the International Commission on Radiation Protection (ICRP), produced 222 Rn from 238 U decay is the main source (approximately 65%) of internal radiation in human life, and this gas is more than half the normal absorbed dosage in individuals. Radon entrance to the body, which releases alpha particles, through respira- tion, eating and drinking accumulates in the respiratory and digestive systems and causes biological efects on these organs. The most serious health hazard of radon for humans is increasing the likelihood of lung cancer by the inhalation of this gas [9]. Radon is a radioactive natural * Neda Javid n.javid1367@gmail.com; n_javid@kmu.ac.ir Mostafa Shamsaddini shamsmos1365@gmail.com Ali Negarestani alinegarestani@yahoo.com Mohammad Malakootian m.malakootin@yahoo.com 1 Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran 2 Department of Advanced Sciences, Graduate Studies University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran 3 Environmental Health Engineering Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Haft Bagh Highway, Kerman Postal Code: 7616913555, Iran 4 Department of Environmental Health, Zarand School of Nursing, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran