Radon in public water supplies in Migdonia basin, Central Macedonia, Northern Greece

The main objective of this work is the accurate measurement of radon concentration in the public water supplies of the Migdonia basin in Northern Greece. The main aim is to localize the sub-areas that present high radon concentrations in water and to inform the local authorities so that more detailed studies might be set up in these areas. About 80 samples from special bore holes and taps that supply the local population with fresh water were collected in order to obtain detailed radon measurements. For the analyses, a liquid scintillation counting system, using the Packard protocol for measuring radon in water, was employed. The results of the investigation show that radon concentrations in these public water supplies are significant. The concentrations ranged from background concentrations to 170 Bq x L(-1). The level of 50 Bq x L(-1) is exceeded in 23% of water supplies. These preliminary results with initial data interpretation and inter-comparison assessment are presented. These results of the analyses showed that elevated radon concentrations were detected in water samples from an area at the western part of the Lake Volvi, due probably to the local intense tectonism, and from a village above the Lake Koronia.