Measurement of radon concentration, its exhalation rates in some soil samples of Punjab

Abstract

Uranium and radium are the naturally occurring radioactive elements present in earth’s crust which on decay leads to radon and thoron gases in indoor and outdoor environment, soil and water. These gases further decay and decay products are harmful as well. Radon, being a naturally occurring radioactive gas can cause many health related malignancies to humans who have continuously exposed to its radiations. Radon is considered a significant contaminant that is second most frequent cause of lung cancer after cigarette smoking. Due to these health-related issues a lot of work has been done to find out its levels at various places in the world by different research groups. The present work deals with assessment of annual effective dose rates due to indoor radon and thoron in some of the dwellings of Punjab. It has been shown that the higher radon concentration is 303.37 Bq.m−3 and lowest is 53.72 Bq.m−3 with the average value of 155.47±65.38 Bq.m−3. Surface exhalation rate in soil samples varies from 5.16 mBq.m−2.h−1 to 29.14 mBq.m−2.h−1 with the average value of 14.93±6.28 mBq.m−2.h−1. Mass exhalation rate in samples varies from 1.25 mBq.kg−1.h−1 to 7.04 mBq.kg−1.h−1 with average value of 3.61±1.52 mBq.kg-1.h−1. The mean values of radon concentration and exhalation rates are nearly the same and less than the world wide average. Therefore, the health hazards related to radiation are expected to be negligible in the studied area.