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<p>In geothermal areas, the presence of hot underground fluids and cracks in the rocks helps radon gas move from the deep underground to the surface. Consequently, such regions often exhibit higher radon levels in soil and water. We carried out a detailed field survey to assess radon levels in the Unai geothermal area of Gujarat, India. The team collected 60 water samples and measured soil radon at 45 different locations using the RAD7 radon detector. The amount of radon gas in the soil ranged from 2.5 to 348.8&#xa0;Bq/m³, with an average of 33.7&#xa0;Bq/m³. In comparison, thoron gas in the soil varied from 27 to 2677&#xa0;Bq/m³, with an average of 373&#xa0;Bq/m³. However, the difference in radon and thoron levels across the area was small, possibly because a thick layer of basalt rock in the region blocks the gas from rising easily to the surface. In the water samples, radon levels ranged from 0.07 to 14.53&#xa0;Bq/L, with an average value of 3.79&#xa0;Bq/L. The groundwater sources consistently showed higher radon levels compared to the surface water. Importantly, all measured concentrations remained below the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) recommended limit of 11.1&#xa0;Bq/L, with the exception of one site (P29) located near a hot spring, where a peak concentration of 14.53&#xa0;Bq/L was recorded. Spatial analysis revealed elevated water radon levels near the Unai hot spring and higher soil radon and thoron concentrations in the northeastern region, indicating localized geological controls on radon release. The radiological risk assessment showed that annual effective doses from soil and water radon exposure remained well below the WHO safety limits (100 µSv/year). The combined inhalation and ingestion doses from water radon varied from 0.27 to 78.81 µSv/year (mean: 20.56 µSv/year), whereas the inhalation doses from soil radon ranged from 0.00002 to 0.0033 mSv/year (mean: 0.0002 mSv/year). These results indicate no immediate health risk but highlight the importance of continued monitoring in geothermal areas such as Unai.</p>

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Radiological risk assessment in soil and water of the Unai geothermal region, Gujarat, India: implications for environmental and public health

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年3月7日

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  • Bala Chandar P.,
  • Sushanta Kumar Sahoo,
  • Peush Chaudhary,
  • Madhusudhanarao Katlamudi

摘要

In geothermal areas, the presence of hot underground fluids and cracks in the rocks helps radon gas move from the deep underground to the surface. Consequently, such regions often exhibit higher radon levels in soil and water. We carried out a detailed field survey to assess radon levels in the Unai geothermal area of Gujarat, India. The team collected 60 water samples and measured soil radon at 45 different locations using the RAD7 radon detector. The amount of radon gas in the soil ranged from 2.5 to 348.8 Bq/m³, with an average of 33.7 Bq/m³. In comparison, thoron gas in the soil varied from 27 to 2677 Bq/m³, with an average of 373 Bq/m³. However, the difference in radon and thoron levels across the area was small, possibly because a thick layer of basalt rock in the region blocks the gas from rising easily to the surface. In the water samples, radon levels ranged from 0.07 to 14.53 Bq/L, with an average value of 3.79 Bq/L. The groundwater sources consistently showed higher radon levels compared to the surface water. Importantly, all measured concentrations remained below the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) recommended limit of 11.1 Bq/L, with the exception of one site (P29) located near a hot spring, where a peak concentration of 14.53 Bq/L was recorded. Spatial analysis revealed elevated water radon levels near the Unai hot spring and higher soil radon and thoron concentrations in the northeastern region, indicating localized geological controls on radon release. The radiological risk assessment showed that annual effective doses from soil and water radon exposure remained well below the WHO safety limits (100 µSv/year). The combined inhalation and ingestion doses from water radon varied from 0.27 to 78.81 µSv/year (mean: 20.56 µSv/year), whereas the inhalation doses from soil radon ranged from 0.00002 to 0.0033 mSv/year (mean: 0.0002 mSv/year). These results indicate no immediate health risk but highlight the importance of continued monitoring in geothermal areas such as Unai.