Radioactive gas radon in ground water in various parts of cities of Bangalore and Mysore in Karnataka.

Central Ground Water Board has conducted tests to check for the presence of radioactive gas radon in ground water in various parts of cities of Bangalore and Mysore in Karnataka. A total of 30 samples were collected from different parts of Bangalore city. High radon content exceeding 11.1 Becquerel per litre as prescribed by BIS was observed in all the samples. Radon content in all the samples collected from Mysore city was found to be within permissible limit. No such tests have been carried out by Central Ground Water Board in other States. 

Radon contamination is geogenic in nature. Radon above permissible limit is generally present in freshly pumped water. However, radon gas (with a half life of 3.8 days only) escapes to the atmosphere on exposure. Radon concentration changes significantly on abstraction, aeration, storage and boiling. Central Ground Water Board had conducted a National Workshop on “Radon contamination in ground water and application of isotopes in ground water studies” during March, 2010 at Bangalore. The workshop was aimed at creating awareness on health hazards due to radon and other radioactive isotopes in ground water. 

This information was given by the Minister of State for Water Resources & Minority Affairs Shri Vincent H. Pala in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.