Concentration, distribution and transportation of 222Rn and its decay products in the environment of coastal Karnataka and Kaiga in southwest India

Abstract

Publisher Summary Studies on radon and its decay products in the atmosphere are useful for determining the radiological risk to the general public. Concentrations of 222 Rn and its decay products in ground level air are dependent on its exhalation rate and atmospheric diffusion depending on meteorological parameters. In the present investigation, extensive studies on 222 Rn exhalation rate, 222 Rn and its decay product concentrations in air at ambient temperature and humidity were carried out simultaneously at each sampling location in coastal Karnataka and Kaiga. Correlations of 226 Ra in soil, 222 Rn exhalation rate, equilibrium factors, and annual effective dose to the general public were estimated. The estimated dose to the general public due to inhalation of outdoor 222 Rn and its decay products using the equilibrium factor suggested by UNSCEAR yielded higher values than the dose calculated from the equilibrium factors obtained here. This suggests the need and importance of measurement of individual 222 Rn concentrations and its decay products, and of establishing the equilibrium factor individually for a larger number of areas so that a more realistic equilibrium factor can be derived for global use.