Assessment of radon gas using passive dosimeter in Amman and Al-Rusaifa cities, Jordan

Bacground: Radon concentration was measured in the soil and indoor of Amman and Al- Rusaifa cities in Jordan during summer season. Materials and Methods: The measurement was performed using time-integrated passive radon dosimeters, containing a solid state nuclear track plastic detector, commercially known as CR-39. Results: Radon concentration levels in the soil ranged from 2.8 +/- 1.2 to 6.9 +/- 1.5 (kBq/m(3)) with an average 4.0 +/- 1.6 (kBq/m(3)) in Amman and from and 6.5 +/- 1.1 to 22.4 +/- 5.2 kBq/m(3) in Al- Rusaifa with average 14.2 +/- 2.5 (kBq/m(3)). The average indoor radon concentration in the first floor in Amman was 44.8 +/- 5.3 (Bq/m(3)); while the average concentration in Al- Rusaifa, in the first floor, was 187 +/- 16.35 (Bq/m(3)). In Al-Rusaifa, our results in the ground floor and the first floor were about 11%- 26 % higher than the reported values, while this ratio reaches to 56% of the soil. Conclusion: The average indoor radon concentration indoor in Al-Rusaifa exceeds the action radon level recommend by WHO (100 Bq/m(3)). The potential health impact in this city is considered high. High radon level in Al-Rusaifa may be due to the phosphate content in its soil. A correlation between the radon concentration in the soil and indoor was observed.