ABSTRACT
The noble radioactive gas radon and its isotope thoron dominate terrestrial radiation in the indoor environment. These gases eventually disintegrate generating radioactive ions that readily adhere to aerosol particles. This study was conducted in a tectonically active location with significant radon concentrations. The obtained average values of radon mass exhalation and thoron surface exhalation rate from this study are higher than the global average values of 56 mBq kg-1 h-1 and 1000 mBq m-2 s-1, respectively. As the exhalation rates are higher, naturally the average radon and thoron concentrations are also greater than the worldwide average values of 40 and 10 Bq m-3, respectively. No significant correlation was observed between 222Rn and 220Rn exhalation rate and indoor 222Rn/220Rn concentration. The exposure dose due to 222Rn, 220Rn and their progenies shows no significant health risk.
Subject(s)
Air Pollutants, Radioactive , Air Pollution, Indoor , Radiation Monitoring , Radon , Radon/analysis , Air Pollution, Indoor/analysis , Air Pollutants, Radioactive/analysis , Radiation Monitoring/methods , Humans , India , Radon Daughters/analysisABSTRACT
It is well known that inhalation of radon, thoron and their progeny contributes more than 50 % of natural background radiation dose to human being. The time-integrated passive measurements of radon, thoron and their progeny concentrations were carried out in the dwellings of Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand, India. The measurements of radon and thoron concentrations were performed by LR-115 detector-based single-entry pin-hole dosemeter, while for the measurement of progeny concentrations, LR-115 deposition-based direct radon and thoron progeny sensors technique was used. The experimental techniques and results obtained are discussed in detail.
