Environmental safety from radioactive radiation perspective-A preliminary research

Abstract

A preliminary cum. exploratory research is carried out to explore the few selected areas within Chandigarh to introspect our living and surrounding environmental conditions that whether it’s safe from radiation perspective or not. The radiation here in this paper signifies the highly energetic radioactive radiation emitted from inside the nucleus. The motivation for performing this work is to ensure the safety of living beings from the radioactive exposure. Effects of the radiation, especially in case of prolonged exposure, can be extremely dangerous or even fatal in near future if its dose limit exceeds than permissible limits. This brief investigation accounts for the background radiation manifested from natural radioactivity in building materials like gray cement or paint samples of various kinds. The study is also carried out at some critical spots in the Chandigarh city like hospitals which have radiology and radiotherapy centres, such as educational institutions (physics and chemistry labs), waste management unit, dumping ground etc. Radiation sensitive G.M counter apparatus have been used to analyse the presence and account for the presence of radiations persisting in that particular area. Henceforth, to acknowledge the radiation levels with a gas filled detection system (G.M. Counter) for that an optimal value of operating voltage is figured out. A preliminary investigation has revealed that the radiation counts/minute observed by us in the selected zones and spots is well within the permissible limits. A much systematic study with more accurate devices especially in the radiation prone areas of the country is highly required.