Radon Concentrations Measurement for groundwater Using Active Detecting Method

On global scale, groundwater has been gaining increasing attention as essential and vital water resource. Its demand has been rising rapidly in the last several decades with the overpopulation and enhanced standards of living. In recent years, a great interest arose towards the natural radioactivity in water. Radon concentrations were measured in thirty groundwater samples from Qassim area, Saudi Arabia by using RAD7 an electronic radon detector connected to a RAD- H2O accessory (Durridge Co., USA). The measured radon concentration ranges from 0.76 Bq/l to 9.15 Bq/l with an average value of 3.56 Bq/l. The measured values of radon concentration are well in the range within the EPA’s maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 11.1 Bq L-1. The total annual effective dose resulting from radon in groundwater from Buraydah area were significantly lower than the UNSCEAR and WHO recommended limit for members of the public of 1 mSv year-1. The measured values for underground water from the study area suggest that the area is safe for farmers and there is no significant threat to the population as per as radon concentration is concerned