Abstract
This study examines the levels and the correlation between indoor and in soil radon concentration in a desert climate. The measurements are carried out, in Jordan desert in AlMafraq district, using the passive integrated technique. An intelligent automated tracks counting system, modified recently by our group, is used to estimate the overlapping tracks and to decrease the counting percentage error. Results show that radon concentration in soil expands from 4.09 to 11.30kBqm−3, with an average of 7.53kBqm−3. Indoor radon concentrations vary from 20.2Bqm−3 in the AlMafraq city to 46.7Bqm−3 in Housha village and with an average of 29.6Bqm−3. All of individual indoor radon concentrations are lower than the limit (100Bqm−3) recommended by WHO except two dwellings in Housha village which found being higher than this limit. A moderate linear correlation (R2=0.66) was observed between indoor and in soil radon concentrations in the investigated region. Our results showed that an in soil radon measurement can be a satisfactory predictor for indoor radon potential.
•We measured indoor and soil radon concentrations for the eastern desert of Jordan.•The average indoor radon concentration in the eastern desert of Jordan is 29.6Bqm−3.•The average soil radon concentration in the eastern desert of Jordan is 7.53kBqm−3.•We found a moderate correlation between indoor and in soil radon concentrations.