Abstract:
Among natural radiations, radon (222Rn) has a significant contribution to affect the mankind. Radon is generated
in rock and soil and it easily dissolves in water and becomes common radiological constituent of groundwater.
Groundwater may contain high concentrations of radon. In the present study, radon activity concentrations were
measured in 12 representative groundwater samples collected from tube-wells/handpumps surrounding the
Roorkee area of Uttarakhand, India. The measurements were performed by RAD7, an electron radon detector
manufactured by Durridge Company Inc. Radon concentration values in groundwater show a wide variation.
The radon concentrations in more than 50% of samples collected from Rampur, Bhagwanpur, Sisona, NIH,
Kishanpur, Sherpur, Ibrahimpur and Khajarpur are above the safe limit of 11 Bq L-1 recommended by the US
Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). The area needs further detailed investigation and continuous
monitoring for determination of radon concentration of groundwater.
