ABSTRACT
Objective:To obtain the distribution characteristics of radon levels in drinking water in cities of China and analysis their influencing factors.Methods:A total of 31 cities were selected and 406 tap water samples were collected in accordance with the sampling plan based on administrative division. Radon concentrations in the water samples were determined by using RAD7 H 2O measuring devices, and the closed loop liquid-gas balance method and grab method . The radon concentrations in the gas loop were measured by using semiconductor detector. After four measurement periods, radon concentrations in water were calculated. Results:The arithmetic mean of radon concentrations in drinking water from 31 cities was (4.92±9.44) Bq/L and the geometric mean (0.71±7.77) Bq/L, ranging from less than the lower detection limit (LLD) to 43.15 Bq/L. For 84.2% of drinking water samples, radon concentrations were less than US EPA recommended 11.1 Bq/L, all lower than the EU-recommended value of 100 Bq/L.Conclusions:The radon concentrations in drinking water are higher in northeastern, northwestern, southwestern, northern China than those in southern, central China and eastern China. The factors influencing radon concentrations in drinking water are closely related to geological structure and water source type. Compared with the global values, the radon concentrations in drinking water in our cities are low and safe in general in China.
ABSTRACT
RESUMO A água de abastecimento público pode ser um veículo de doenças e agravos à saúde humana, portanto, é necessário um tratamento eficiente e constantes avaliações da sua qualidade. O presente estudo objetivou avaliar a dinâmica populacional de indicadores microbiológicos e parâmetros físico-químicos da qualidade da água em diferentes pontos de uma estação de tratamento de água do tipo convencional, do sistema de distribuição e dos mananciais de abastecimento do município de Jaboticabal, São Paulo, nas estações chuvosa e de seca. Os resultados demonstraram que, apesar do manancial superficial apresentar qualidade microbiológica inferior (comparado aos demais mananciais estudados), após tratamento convencional foi obtida a potabilidade do mesmo. A estação chuvosa foi crítica para amostras coletadas nas etapas logo após adição de cloro, principalmente no sistema de distribuição do manancial subsuperficial. Dentre os pontos avaliados na rede de distribuição, os reservatórios domiciliares apresentaram o maior número de amostras fora do padrão de potabilidade, principalmente na rede abastecida pelo manancial subsuperficial. São necessárias estratégias para a melhoria do processo de tratamento da água do dreno - voltado para a redução da turbidez - principalmente na estação chuvosa; assim como programas de educação em saúde para a população, a fim de melhorar a qualidade da água no ponto de consumo, a partir da limpeza periódica dos reservatórios domiciliares.
ABSTRACT The public-supply water can be a vehicle of disease and harm to human health, therefore, efficient treatment and constant evaluation of its quality is required. The present study aimed to evaluate the population dynamics of microbiological and physico-chemical indicators of water quality parameters at different points of a water treatment plant of the conventional type, in the distribution system and sources of supply in Jaboticabal city, São Paulo state, Brazil, in the rainy and dry seasons. The results showed that although the present fountain surface presents worse microbiological quality (compared to other sources studied) after the conventional treatment, it became potable. The rainy season was critical for samples collected in steps after adding chlorine, especially in the distribution of sub-surface source system. Among the evaluated points in the distribution network, domestic containers had the highest number of samples outside the potability standards, mainly those fueled by the sub-surface source network. Strategies to improve the treatment process of the drain water (turbidity reduction) are needed, especially during the rainy season; as well as health education programs in order to improve water quality at the point of consumption by periodic cleaning of domestic containers.