Variation of radon exposure in Damascus dwellings

In the present work, activity concentrations of 222Rn in air and 222Rn and 226Ra in drinking water were measured in Damascus city covering its old and modern parts.It was found that the average air radon activity concentration in the old part was higher than in the modern part, and in drinking water, radon was found to be 60±3 Bq/l, and less than 0.13 Bq/l for radium, which were lower than the recommended levels set by WHO.

► This work presents screening of natural radioactivity in dwellings in Damascus city.
► Radon, 226Rn and total alpha/beta in air and drinking water were measured.
► Most of the obtained results were within the recommended levels set by WHO.
► In general radon in the old part was higher than the modern part of the city.