314 K . M . Thabayneh and R . J . Shawamreh : Radioprotection 2024 , 59 ( 4 ), 306 – 316 Fig . 6 . The correlation between radium concentrations ( C Ra ) with radon-222 concentration ( C Rn ) in Tulkarm Governorate .
Table 4 . Comparison of radon-222 concentration levels in soil samples at the present work with those in Palestine . Site
Radon concentration ( Bq m �3 )
|
Min |
Max |
Av . |
|
North Gaza |
23.5 |
584.1 |
303.8 |
( Hamed 2005 ) |
Nablus |
55.4 |
589.5 |
268 . 6 |
( Shoqwara et al ., 2013 ) |
Hebron |
294.0 |
512.0 |
403.0 |
( Thabayneh 2016 ) |
Bethlehem |
19.1 |
572.9 |
296.0 |
( Thabayneh 2018 ) |
Present work Tulkarm |
281.0 |
826.0 |
553.5 |
|
-Jenin |
115.8 |
745.5 |
430.7 |
Present work |
-Tubas |
346.5 |
650.4 |
498.5 |
|
Ref . value of 57,600 mBq m 2 h 1 reported by UNSCEAR . Consequently , it is suggested that this soil can be safely used for construction purposes , as it exhibits a low radon-222 exhalation rate and does not pose significant health risks ( UNSCEAR , 2000 ; Krishna et al ., 2023 ).
The annual effective dose , estimating the radiation dose received by individuals over a year , was found to be slightly higher than the action levels ( 3 – 10 mSv / year ) recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection ( ICRP ) ( ICRP , 1993 ). However , it ’ s important to note that these values are still considered safe in terms of potential health hazards . While they exceed the lower end of the recommended action levels , they remain within a range that is generally considered acceptable and does not pose immediate health risks . Continued monitoring and assessment are advisable to ensure ongoing safety and to address any potential changes in radiation exposure .
In conclusion , based on the information provided , it can be inferred that the radon-222 exhalation rate from the soil is relatively low and does not pose significant health risks . Similarly , although the annual effective dose values slightly exceed the recommended action levels , they are still considered within a safe range . It is worth noting that this work represents the first study conducted on the soil in the investigated area , and further research should be conducted to cover other locations and different seasons . Expanding the scope of research will contribute to a more thorough understanding of radon-222 levels , facilitating the implementation of targeted measures to ensure public safety across various regions and environmental conditions .
6 Conclusions
In this particular study , a cumulative passive dosimeter comprising a solid-state nuclear track detector ( SSNTD ) of type CR-39 was utilized to estimate radon-222 concentration , radium contents , radon-222 exhalation rate , and annual effective dose in 40 soil samples collected from various locations in the northern part of the West Bank , Palestine .
The average radon-222 concentration values for the sites in Tulkarm , Jenin , and Tubas were found to be 505.2 Bq / m 3 , 528.4 Bq / m 3 , and 515.3 Bq / m 3 , respectively . The corresponding average annual effective dose values for these sites were