In-depth study of radon in water in a Greek village with enhanced radon concentrations

Abstract

This study focused on the radon transfer from the water to the air and the subsequent impact of waterborne radon indoors, taking advantage of the enhanced and decreasing from year to year radon-in-water concentrations observed in the Arnea village in Northern Greece. Some other essential aspects and observations regarding radon-in-water were also discussed. Concerning radon transfer from water to the air, the transfer efficiencies for showering and the use of the bathroom tap were estimated by measuring the radon-in-water and the waterborne radon-in-air concentrations in sealed bathrooms of two apartments in Arnea. The transfer efficiency for the bathroom tap use ranged from 22 to 28.9% for water flow rates of 2.7–7 L min−1. For showering, the transfer efficiency ranged from 45 to 48.3% for water flow rates of 6 L min−1 and 8 L min−1, respectively. As for the impact of waterborne radon indoors, each year's two-week monitoring of radon-in-water and radon-in-air concentrations in a house in Arnea from 2018 to 2022 revealed rapid and sharp increases in the bathroom air related to waterborne radon. Following the results obtained in the house's bathroom in Arnea, showering is the most significant exposure of humans to waterborne radon due to the person's proximity to waterborne radon, the enclosed space, the high transfer efficiency of showering, and the significant amount of water consumed. Each year's two-week average indoor radon concentrations measured in the examined house in Arnea showed that waterborne radon's contribution is less important than the other parameters affecting indoor radon, such as ventilation rates and radon emanation from the soil beneath the house's structure. Time variation (2018–2022) of radon activity concentration measured in a borehole supplying Arnea with water showed a relatively low standard deviation (10.2%) at a coverage factor of k = 1. A disequilibrium was observed between radon and its progenies immediately after pumping water from a borehole. This disequilibrium was observed for 1.3 years and seems to be continuous. Regarding radon removal from water, the diffused bubble aeration System constructed in Arnea reduces the radon-in-water activity concentration by more than 90% when using an air-to-water ratio of 10:1 and a detention time of 60 min. The System does not affect the adjacent outer space radon-in-air concentrations.