a b s t r a c t
In the present investigation, analysis of radon concentration in 20 water and soil samples
collected from different locations of Bikaner and Jhunjhunu districts of Rajasthan, India
has been carried out by using RAD7 an electronic Radon detector. The measured radon
concentration in water samples lies in the range from 0.50 to 22 Bq l1 with the mean value
of 4.42 Bq l1, which lies within the safe limit from 4 to 40 Bq l1 recommended by United
Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR, 2008). The total
annual effective dose estimated due to radon concentration in water ranges from 1.37 to
60.06 mSV y1 with the mean value of 12.08 mSV y1, which is lower than the safe limit
0.1 mSv y1 as set by World Health Organization (WHO, 2004) and European Council (EU,
1998). Radon measurement in soil samples varies from 941 to 10,050 Bq m3 with the mean
value of 4561 Bq m3, which lies within the range reported by other investigators. It was
observed that the soil and water of Bikaner and Jhunjhunu districts are suitable for
drinking and construction purpose without posing any health hazard.