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Preliminary studies on 222Rn concentration in ground water from selected areas of the Accra metropolis in Ghana

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Abstract

Preliminary studies on groundwater samples from selected wells in three communities in the Greater Accra region of Ghana have been carried out to determine the concentration of 222Rn. The studies were carried out in the dry season when the weather conditions were fairly stable and the communities depend mostly on groundwater sources for domestic use during this period. Measurements were carried out using gamma spectrometry. The average activity concentration obtained was 8.1 Bq/L with an average annual effective dose of 59.2 μSv. The result is within the range published by other countries and the recommended limit for radon in drinking water set by the World Health Organization.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are very grateful to the Radiation Protection Institute and School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences of the University of Ghana for the use of their facilities for this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Radiation Protection Institute, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, P.O. Box LG 80, Legon, Accra, Ghana

    E. O. Darko & A. R. Awudu

  2. School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana

    O. K. Adukpo, J. J. Fletcher & F. Otoo

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  1. E. O. Darko
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  2. O. K. Adukpo
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  3. J. J. Fletcher
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  4. A. R. Awudu
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  5. F. Otoo
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Correspondence to E. O. Darko.

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Darko, E.O., Adukpo, O.K., Fletcher, J.J. et al. Preliminary studies on 222Rn concentration in ground water from selected areas of the Accra metropolis in Ghana. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 283, 507–512 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-009-0378-y

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