Analysis of radon concentration in drinking water in Baoji (China) and the associated health effects.

This paper presents the results of radon concentration measurements in drinking water from the municipal water supply system and private wells located in Baoji, China. The measurements were carried out on 69 samples. The mean values of tap water and well water were found to be 12 kBq m(-3) with a maximum of 18 kBq m(-3) and 41 kBq m(-3) with a maximum of 127 kBq m(-3), respectively. The well water samples obtained from different depth-well (water-bearing levels), i.e. shallow well (well depth under 10 m) water, middle well (well depth 10-30 m) water and deep well water, have respective mean values of 24, 34 and 56 kBq m(-3). The contributions of the observed radon concentration in drinking water to indoor radon account for 2.8-13.2% of the mean value of Shaanxi indoor radon concentration and the effective dose to the dweller owing to inhalation of radon emanating from household water is 0.03-0.14 mSv y(-1).