Radon in tube-well drinking water and indoor air

High radon concentration in well water influences the indoor radon concentration when used as a domestic water supply. Radon levels were measured in indoor air and different tube-well water samples at the Nuclear Science Centre (NSC) premises. The ground-water from these tube-wells is used for drinking by the residents of the NSC premises. The radon concentrations in drinking water and the indoor air of the NSC premises were measured by using AlphaGuard. Radon levels recorded were more or less the same in all water samples and were found to vary from 1645Bq.m(-3) to 3869Bq.m(-3). Even when de-ionised, the radon concentration in the water was measured in the range from 1569Bq.m(-3) to 2213Bq.m(-3). The pH value of the water samples was also measured: no correlation was observed between radon concentration and the pH of the water samples. In addition, radon levels were also measured in some houses at the NSC premises using the same technique. The indoor radon level was found to vary from 3Bq.m(-3) to 75Bq.m(-3). The radon levels in kitchens and bedrooms were found to be slightly higher than those in other parts of the house. The indoor radon concentration was found to be highest at night and lowest in the afternoon. However, the measured radon levels in both the drinking water and the indoor air are well below the UNSCEAR recommended levels.