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Gross alpha and beta measurements in drinkable water from seven major geographical regions of China and the associated cancer risks

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  • Chenhui Sang, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
  • ,
  • Wei An, CAS - Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Tsinghua University
  • ,
  • Peter Borgen Sørensen
  • Mingyi Han, CAS - Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
  • ,
  • Yiping Hong, Tsinghua University
  • ,
  • Min Yang, CAS - Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences

In this study, human health risk derived from radioactive pollution in drinking water of China was assessed based on gross alpha and beta. Considering the presence of numerous data under the detection limits, the left-censored handling methods were employed to deal with the non-detected values in gross alpha and beta radioactive concentrations. Results show that concentrations of gross alpha and beta range from 4.98 × 10−4 Bq/L to 0.49 Bq/L with a mean value of 0.029 Bq/L and 5.00 × 10−3 Bq/L to 1.26 Bq/L with a mean value of 0.091 Bq/L, respectively. With the average effective dose being 1.41 × 10−2 mSv/y, the annual cancer risk due to radioactive pollution in Chinese drinking water is 7.75 × 10−7 /y. This study aimed to provide an easier method to quantify the radioactive pollution in drinking water and give a scientific basis for making policy decisions on radioactive pollution management.

Original languageEnglish
Article number111728
JournalEcotoxicology and Environmental Safety
Volume208
ISSN0147-6513
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 15 Jan 2021

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 The Authors

Copyright:
Copyright 2020 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

    Research areas

  • Committed Effective Dose (CED), Gross alpha, Gross beta, Health risk, Left-censored data

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