[Effective dose rate of radon gas in Jooshan hot spring of Kerman Province]

Human beings are constantly exposed to different radiations that have always been recognized as a health hazard. Radon-222 and its daughter products are major sources of natural radiations and a significant total inhalation dose is related to them. Hence, the measurement of radon activity in the environment has gained an increasing importance. In this study, with the measurement of radon concentration, the indoor radon activity level and radon effective dose rate in Jooshan hot spring were determined. Concentration of radon gas inside the pool of Jooshan hot spring was measured using the active detector Rad7 type and the annual effective dose was estimated for individuals inhaling the indoor air of this pool for a specified period of time. Concentration of indoor air radon gas was 98.3 +/- 4.9 Bq/m3 and for a person staying in the pool twice a week and each time for two hours, the annual effective dose rate, due to the inhalation of radon, equals to 0.06 +/- 0.003 mSv/y. Comparison of the obtained effective dose with the standards of Environmental protection Agency and Health physics Society, it can be concluded that for individuals that normally use Jooshan hot spring pool, the resulted dose is in the recommended range

Environmental monitoring of radon, thoron and their progeny in some dwellings of northern Haryana (India).

The problem of randon is an important global problem of radiation hygiene concerning the world population. Radon and its progeny are the major contributors in the radiation dose received by general population of the world. Keeping this in mind, the environmental monitoring of radon, thoron and their progeny in some dwellings of northern part of Haryana state of India has been carried out. The radon thoron twin dosimeter cups were used for the study. Three pieces of LR-115 solid-state nuclear track detectors were fixed in the dosimeters and were suspended in the dwellings for three months during a season. The first detector indicated radon, thoron and progeny concentration, the second showed radon and thoron concentration, while the third detected only the radon concentration. The aim of study was to carry out possible health risk assessment in the dwellings under consideration. During summer season, the radon concentration in northern region of Haryana varied from 66-97 Bq m(-3), while the thoron concentration in the same dwellings varied from 27-65 Bq m(-3). During winter season, radon concentration in northern region of Haryana varied from 73-104 Bq m(-3) with an average of 88 + 7 Bq m(-3), while the thoron concentration in the same dwellings varied from 35-69 Bq m(-3) with an average of 55 +/- 8 Bq m(-3). The radon-thoron progeny levels and annual doses received by the inhabitants in the dwellings under study have also been calculated.

Diurnal and monthly variation of indoor radon and thoron progeny concentrations at a hillside place of northern India.

The natural radioactivity levels all over the world can create health problems due to the inhalation of radioactive aerosols. Radon and thoron progeny content of indoor air have major contribution to natural radiation dose. In the present study, simultaneous indoor measurements of radon and thoron progeny concentrations have been carried out over a period of four months at a low activity hilly area of northern Punjab, India to see their diurnal and monthly variations. The method used for this purpose is based on the defined solid angle absolute beta counting of radioactive aerosols sampled on a filter. The average values of equilibrium equivalent radon and thoron concentrations were 5.20 Bq m(-3) and 0.235 Bq m(-3), respectively, over the period August to November 2003. Both, EECRn and EECTh show a negative correlation with temperature.