Radon in spring waters in the south of Catalonia

Spring waters in the south of Catalonia were analysed to determine the 222Rn activity in order to be able to establish a correlation between the obtained values with the geology of the area of origin of these samples, and also estimate the potential health risks associated with 222Rn. Most of the analysed samples (90%) show 222Rn activities lower than 100Bq/L (exposure limit in water recommended by the World Health Organisation and EU directive 2013/51/EURATOM). However, in some cases, the activity values found for this isotope exceeded those levels and this can be attributed to the geology of the area where the spring waters are located, which is predominantly of granitic characteristics. To verify the origin of the radon present in the analysed samples, the obtained activity values were compared with the activities of its parents (226Ra, 238U and 234U). Finally, we have calculated the annual effective dose from all the radionuclides measured in spring water samples. The results showed that the higher contribution due to spring water ingestion come from 222Rn and 226Ra. The resulting contribution to the annual effective dose due to radon ingestion varies between 10.2 and 765.8 μSv/y, and the total annual effective dose due to his parents, 226Ra, 234U and 238U varies between 0.8 and 21.2 μSv/y so the consumption of these waters does not involve any risks to population due to its natural radioactivity content. •Radon was determined in spring waters at different points of north-eastern Spain, in the region of Catalonia.•A procedure was applied for the determination of 222Rn in water samples using liquid scintillation counting (LSC).•The possible origin of the 222Rn was correlated through the analysis of its parents (226Ra, 234U and 238U).•The annual effective dose was calculated of all of the radionuclides measured in the spring water samples.