Evaluation of radon gas concentration in the drinking water and dwellings of south-west Libya, using CR-39 detectors

In the present study radon (²²²Rn) concentrations in drinking water and dwellings at south of Libya was performed by using CR-39 detectors. The detectors were chemically etched and the alpha track density was measured using an optical microscope. The average indoor radon concentration for the whole survey was 29.7±3.8 Bq/m³ corresponds to an average effective dose rate of 0.67 mSv yr⁻¹. Variation of radon concentrations were found for different types of rooms: 17±1.9, 29±2.7, 35.5±3.1 and 37.3±3.4 Bq/m³ for living rooms, bedrooms, guest rooms and kitchens, respectively. In addition, the average radon level in drinking water samples from different water wells was 3.46 ±1.76 Bq/L which corresponds to an average effective dose rate of 25.3μSv/y. Results reveal that there is no significant public health risk from radon ingested with drinking water and indoor radon concentration in the study region.