An assessment of radon in groundwater in New York State

Health Physics - The Safety Radiation Journal
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Abstract

Abstract: A set of 317 samples collected from wells throughout New York State (excluding Long Island) from 2003 through 2008 was used to assess the distribution of radon gas in drinking water. Previous studies have documented high concentrations of radon in groundwater from granitic and metamorphic bedrock, but there have been only limited characterizations of radon in water from sedimentary rock and unconsolidated sand-and-gravel deposits in New York. Approximately 8% of the samples from bedrock wells exceed 89 Bq L-1 (eight times the proposed regulatory limit), but only 2% of samples from sand-and-gravel wells exceed 44 Bq L-1. Specific metamorphic and sedimentary rock formations in New York are associated with the high radon concentrations, indicating that specific areas of New York could be targeted with efforts to reduce the risk of exposure to radon in groundwater. Additionally, radon in groundwater from the sand-and-gravel aquifers was found to be directly correlated to radon in indoor air when assessed by county.

Study Area

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title An assessment of radon in groundwater in New York State
Series title Health Physics - The Safety Radiation Journal
DOI 10.1097/HP.0b013e31824dadbe
Volume 103
Issue 3
Year Published 2012
Language English
Publisher Wolters Kluwer Health
Publisher location Riverwoods, IL
Contributing office(s) New York Water Science Center
Description 6 p.
Larger Work Type Article
Larger Work Subtype Journal Article
Larger Work Title Health Physics - The Safety Radiation Journal
First page 311
Last page 316
Country United States
State New York
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