Sains Malaysiana 55(8)(2026): 1372-1381

http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2026-5508-12

 

Annual Effective Dose and Excess Lifetime Cancer Risk Associated with Radon Exposure in Tap Water of Chiang Khan District, Loei Province, Thailand

(Dos Berkesan Tahunan dan Risiko Kanser Seumur Hidup Berlebihan Berkaitan dengan Pendedahan Radon dalam Air Paip Daerah Chiang Khan, Wilayah Loei, Thailand)

 

ING-ORN SITTITANADOL¹, KHANUENGNIJ PRAKHAMMIN² & VITSANUSAT ATYOTHA^3,*

 

¹Department of Metallurgical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Rajamangala University of Technology Isan, Khon Kaen Campus, Khon Kaen, 40000, Thailand

²Department of Applied Statistics, Faculty of Engineering, Rajamangala University of Technology Isan, Khon Kaen Campus, Khon Kaen, 40000, Thailand

³Department of Applied Physics, Faculty of Engineering, Rajamangala University of Technology Isan, Khon Kaen Campus, Khon Kaen, 40000, Thailand

 

Received: 21 May 2026/Accepted: 17 August 2026

 

Abstract

Objectives of this study were to determine radon concentration in tap water and assess the annual effective dose (AED) and excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) associated with radon exposure in tap water in Chiang Khan District, Loei Province, Thailand. A total of 40 water samples were collected to determine radon concentration using the RAD7 radon detector and analyze the physical and chemical properties of the water using a multiparameter water quality meter. The results showed that radon concentrations in tap water were between 0.007 and 1.973 Bq/L with an average of 0.099 ± 0.307 Bq/L. The highest concentration was observed at one sampling location (1.973 Bq/L), although all measured values remained considerably below the World Health Organization (WHO) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) recommended limits of radon levels in tap water. Radon concentration has a negative correlation with temperature. The AED and ELCR assessments showed that the infant group (0-1 years) had the highest risk compared to the children and adult groups due to the higher rate of water consumption per body mass. However, AED and ELCR values for all age groups were still low and did not exceed the levels that pose radiation risks to public health. This study provides the first baseline data on radon levels, associated radiological risks, and water quality parameters in tap water from Chiang Khan District, Loei Province.

Keywords: Annual effective dose; excess lifetime cancer risk; Chiang Khan District; radon; tap water

 

Abstrak

Objektif kajian ini adalah untuk menentukan kepekatan radon dalam air paip dan menilai dos berkesan tahunan (AED) dan risiko kanser seumur hidup berlebihan (ELCR) yang berkaitan dengan pendedahan radon dalam air paip di Daerah Chiang Khan, Wilayah Loei, Thailand. Sebanyak 40 sampel air telah dikumpulkan untuk menentukan kepekatan radon menggunakan pengesan radon RAD7 dan menganalisis sifat fizikal dan kimia air menggunakan meter kualiti air berbilang parameter. Keputusan menunjukkan bahawa kepekatan radon dalam air paip adalah antara 0.007 dan 1.973 Bq/L dengan purata 0.099 ± 0.307 Bq/L. Kepekatan tertinggi diperhatikan di satu lokasi persampelan (1.973 Bq/L), walaupun semua nilai yang diukur kekal jauh di bawah had tahap radon yang disyorkan oleh Pertubuhan Kesihatan Sedunia (WHO) dan Agensi Perlindungan Alam Sekitar A.S. (USEPA). Kepekatan radon mempunyai korelasi negatif dengan suhu. Penilaian AED dan ELCR menunjukkan bahawa kumpulan bayi (0-1 tahun) mempunyai risiko tertinggi berbanding kumpulan kanak-kanak dan dewasa disebabkan oleh kadar penggunaan air yang lebih tinggi bagi setiap jisim badan. Walau bagaimanapun, nilai AED dan ELCR untuk semua peringkat umur masih rendah dan tidak melebihi tahap yang menimbulkan risiko radiasi kepada kesihatan awam. Kajian ini menyediakan data asas pertama tentang tahap radon, risiko radiologi yang berkaitan dan parameter kualiti air dalam air paip dari Daerah Chiang Khan, Wilayah Loei.

Kata kunci: Air paip; Daerah Chiang Khan; dos berkesan tahunan; radon; risiko kanser sepanjang hayat berlebihan

 

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*Corresponding author; email: vitsanusat.at@rmuti.ac.th