RADON CONCENTRATION IN SOIL AND GROUNDWATER OF WEST COASTAL AREA, BANGLADESH

Abstract

On-site radon concentration has been measured in soil gas and ground water using AlphaGUARD PQ2000 PRO (Saphymo, Germany) radon monitor at the west coastal area of Bangladesh. The measured radon concentration in ground water samples is in the range of 1.41 ± 0.29 to 3.2 ± 0.59 Bq/l with the mean value of 2.33 ± 0.50 Bq/l, which lies within the safe limit recommended by UNSCEAR (2008). The total annual effective dose estimated due to radon concentration in ground water ranges from 3.85 to 8.74 μSv/y with the mean value of 6.37 μSv/y, which is lower than the safe limit set by WHO (2004) and EU (1998). In soil samples, radon concentration has been measured at three different depths (0, 20 and 40 cm) in each location. The highest and the lowest concentrations are 4790 ± 51 and 10 ± 04 Bq/m3 at 40 and 0 cm (surface) depth, respectively, which lie within the natural background levels.