In situ measurements of radon levels in water and soil and exhalation rate in areas of Malwa belt of Punjab (India).

Radon concentration levels in water and soil gas from 36 locations pertaining to some areas of Malwa region of Punjab have been measured on an in situ basis using a continuous active radon detector (AlphaGuard, Model - PQ 2000 PRO, Genitron instruments, Germany). Exhalation rate measurements have also been carried out at these places, using a closed-circuit technique. The radon concentrations in soil and water varied from 1.9 to 16.4 kBq m(-3) and 5.01 to 11.6 kBq m(-3), respectively. The exhalation rate (E (Rn)) ranged between 7.48 and 35.88 mBq m(-2) s(-1) with an average value of 18.17 mBq m(-2) s(-1). Annual dose rates have been calculated for water radon concentrations. The minimum to maximum values of dose rates were found to be 13.42-31.08 μSv y(-1). The recorded values of radon concentration in water are within the safe limit of 11 Bq l(-1) recommended by the US Environment Protection Agency [National Research Council, Risk Assessment of Radon in Drinking Water (Academy Press, Washington, DC, USA, 1999)]. All measurements were made in similar climatic and environmental conditions to ensure minimal variations in meteorological parameters. An intermediate correlation coefficient (0.5) was observed between radon exhalation rates and soil gas values.