Assessment of radon concentration and heavy metal contamination in groundwater samples from some areas of Fazilka district, Punjab, India

Groundwater samples taken from 20 villages of Fazilka district, Punjab, India were analysed for radon concentration using RAD7, which is an electronic radon detector. Radon concentration varies from (1.4 ± 1.0) × 103 Bq/m3 to (4.9 ± 3.0) × 103 Bq/m3, which is much below the safe limits proposed by US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) and UN Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation. The mean annual effective dose calculated for these samples was also found to be within the limits provided by WHO and EU council. These samples were also analysed for concentration of certain heavy elements like As, Pb, Zn, Cu, Hg, Ni and Cd using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometer. Out of these, concentrations of As and Pb were found to exceed the permissible limits suggested by US EPA.