Radon and radium in tap drinking waters in the city of Kavadarci

Abstract

Radon and radium could pose serious risk to human health and that is why our preliminary research was concentrated on their concentration in tap drinking waters from the Kavadarci municipality. We sampled three locations within the city limits and there have been determined radon and radium concentrations respectively. Radon concentrations of 0.53 Bq/l; 0.70 Bq/l and 0,87 Bq/l were determined for samples K1, K2 and K3, respectively, which are of 12 to 21 times less than the strictest reference values. Radium values were 0.21 Bq/l; 0.09 Bq/l and 0.20 Bq/l in samples K1, K2 and K3, respectively, which are 5 to 11 times less than usual reference values. Also, total exposure doses due to inhalation and ingestion of radon and ingestion of radium were calculated and their respective values were 4 to 8 times lower than actual allowed reference values.