Estimation of radon concentration in groundwater in the mining zone of Haryana, India, for lungs and stomach annual effective dose.

This article focuses on the assessment of radon-222 (^222Rn) concentration in groundwater used for drinking and irrigation in the mining region of the Aravalli Mountain range in southern Haryana, India. Using the RAD7 alpha detector, radon levels were measured in 51 water samples, revealing concentrations above the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's recommended limit of 11 Bq/L, with about 10% exceeding the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) safe level of 40 Bq/L, though all remained below the World Health Organization's threshold of 100 Bq/L. The study estimated annual effective radiation doses to various organs from radon ingestion and inhalation, finding these doses within internationally accepted safety limits, with ingestion doses generally higher than inhalation doses. The findings indicate that local geology and mining activities influence radon levels, but the current radiological risk from drinking water in the area is considered negligible, while recommending ongoing monitoring to inform public health policies.