Determination Of Gross Alpha And Beta Radioactivity Levels And Corresponding Doses In Drinking Water Samples From The Southern Coastal Regions Of Tamil Nadu
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Abstract
Exposure to radioactive substances found in drinking water can increase the risk of cancer and various health issues, including immune system problems, reproductive issues, and neurological effects. Radioactive substances can also alter DNA, potentially leading to genetic mutations. The water samples from three different natural background areas (Kanyakumari, Parangipettai and Kalpakkam) were collected and the gross α and β activity were counted using a dual channel gross alpha and beta counted. It was observed that the α activity in the drinking water samples from Kanyakumari zone, Parangipettai zone and Kalpakkam zone ranged from BDL to 0.93 Bq/L, BDL to 1.39 Bq/L and BDL to 0.93 Bq/L with an average of 0.29, 0.41 and 0.27 Bq/L respectively. The beta (β) activity in the drinking water samples collected from the three zones ranged from 0.59 to 34.31 Bq/L, BDL to 6.51 Bq/L and 0.59 to 9.46 Bq/L, with an average of 8.08, 2.1 and 4.86 Bq/L respectively. The annual α-effective dose through drinking water from Kanyakumari, Parangipettai, and Kalpakkam zones were ranged from BDL to 7 × 10-4 mSv/y, BDL to 1 × 10-3 mSv/y and BDL to 7.4 × 10-4 mSv/y respectively and the annual β-effective dose in the three zones ranged from 8 × 10-5 to 4 × 10-3 mSv/y, BDL - 9 × 10-4 mSv/y and 8 × 10-5 to 4 × 10-3 mSv/y respectively.