Sampling and analysis for radon-222 dissolved in ground water and surface water

Radon-222 is a naturally occurring radioactive gas in the uranium-238 decay series that has traditionally been called, simply, radon. The lung cancer risks associated with the inhalation of radon decay products have been well documented by epidemiological studies on populations of uranium miners.The realization that radon is a public health hazard has raised the need for sampling and analytical guidelines for field personnel. Several sampling and analytical methods are being used to document radon concentrations in ground water and surface water worldwide but no convenient, single set of guidelines is available. Three different sampling and analytical methods-bubbler, liquid scintillation, and field screening-are discussed in this paper. The bubbler and liquid scintillation methods have high accuracy and precision, and small analytical method detection limits of 0.2 and 10 pCi/l (picocuries per liter), respectively. The field screening method generally is used as a qualitative reconnaissance tool.     

An environmental stress information system

This paper reports on the development of an environmental stress information system (ESIS) for the purpose of storing, updating and analysing environmental stress data related to noise, heat, improper illumination and air contaminants. The information system (ESIS) consists of a set of programs as well as a set of data base files for the purpose of efficient data processing. The system is user-friendly and, once started, guides the user with the help of menu-driven options. All data related to noise, heat, illumination and air contaminants can be entered, updated, displayed or printed in certain specified formats. Finally, the use of the ESIS in evaluating air contaminants such as total suspended particles, certain specified metals and inorganic gases in the Jeddah Industrial estate is also reported.