Measurement of radon concentration levels in ground water of Tumkur industrial areas, Karnataka

Radon is a radioactive noble gas of natural origin. It is found in air, soil, rocks and different types of water, surface, wells and springs. Many industries discharge their effluents without any proper treatment into nearby open pits or pass them through unlined channels, which move towards the low lying depressions on land, resulting in the contamination of groundwater and surface water sources. The industrial effluents, if not treated to remove or bring pollutant concentration level below standards specified, it can pollute and cause serious damage to the surface and ground water resources. It is worth to carry out surveys for radon in natural water to protect human beings and for geological considerations. The results presented in this paper are from a survey carried out in twenty different locations of industrial areas of Tumkur district in Karnataka, India. Huge inputs of pollutants from the industries have been taking the pollutant levels beyond the prescribed tolerable limits. The measurements are made using Bubbler technique. The total annual effective dose shows that Radon concentration is within range of 3.15 Bql^-1 to 89.40 Bql^-1 with an average value of 16.38 Bql^-1. (author)