Using the eastern areas of Novosibirsk Region as an example, distributions of calculated effective radiation doses from radon entering buildings with groundwaters are analyzed. This study has shown radon concentrations to be above recommended action level of 60 Bq/dm3 adopted in Russia – in 6% of the investigated groundwater samples, and the average annual effective dose of radon ingested in drinking water and released from domestic water use to the indoor air environment, to be in excess of 5 mSv/year. The highest average annual effective dose values were calculated for waters within the area of distribution of granitoids, in particular for waters in the exocontact parts of the Kolyvan granitoid massif (>12 mSv/year). Given that radon levels fluctuated significantly throughout the year as was shown in the course of monthly monitoring of radon activity concentrations at four study sites, it can be ascertained that individual measurements would contain insufficient information for ranking communities/households for radon risk.

Keywords: hydrogeochemistry, radon, effective radiation dose, radon hazard index, radon hazard assessment, Novosibirsk region, Western Siberia.

DOI 10.20403/2078-0575-2025-4b-162-172

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