Comparative study of 222Rn/220Rn progeny concentration and estimation of age-dependent dose due to inhalation of radon progeny for different body organs

Abstract

ABSTRACTIn the present study, the age-dependent doses due to inhalation of short lived decay progeny of radon, i.e., 214Po to different body organs have been calculated for the inhabitants of the Jammu district, Jammu & Kashmir, India. The estimated age-dependent doses for different body organs due to inhalation of radon progeny through air for all age groups varied between 0.002E-06 and 0.10 n Svy−1 which were found to be well within the recommended limit of 1000 µ Svy−1 (ICRP). The progeny concentration of radon and thoron was calculated and compared by two different techniques. The attached and un-attached progeny concentration of radon and thoron was calculated by using a passive time integrating, deposition-based technique. The measured attached and un-attached radon and thoron progeny concentrations have been cross-checked by on-line active technique, i.e., Flow-mode Integrated Sampler. A weak positive correlation has been observed between the two devices. The median value of un-attached fraction was found to be 0.15 and 0.12 for thoron and radon progeny, respectively and found to have a log-normal distribution. A good positive correlation has been observed between radon and thoron progeny concentrations.