Determination of radon (Rn-222) activity in deep well water in Uşak and its surrounding

People and other living organisms are exposed to radiation via both natural and artificial resources throughout their life. Radon gas and other decay products constitute % 50 of natural radiation that people take in. Water is the most important need to sustain of human life. All living organisms get their water needs from surface and underground water sources. Underground water includes radioactive elements from 238U and 232Th group because of radioactive materials which it passes through and contacts. Radioactive elements that belong to uranium material dissolved in the water are composed of 223Ra, 226Ra and 222Rn which poses the serious risk for human healt. It is the requirement of international authorities that radioactive elements contained in the drinking water must be below detemined limit value.On the other hand, due to eartquakes seen in many regions on the earth, many researchers have focused on finding methods for predicting earthquakes. One way of predicting earthquake is the investigation of the relation between changing radon gas activities and seismic activities.The aim of this study is to determine radon and radium activities contained in deep well water in Uşak and its surroundings. For this purpose, water samples taken from 10 different wells by weekly periods between 13.08.2008 and 22.12.2008 are examined in the Nuclear Physics Laboratory of Physics Department at Afyon Kocatepe University. According to analysis, maximum and minimum radon activities are 21,56 Bq/L and 0,05 Bq/L, respectively. Regarding radium activity in the deep well water, its maximum and minimum activities are found as 5,84 Bq/L and 0,02 Bq/L, respectively.Obtained results are evaluated for radon-helth and radon-earthquake relations.