Estimation Of Radon Concentration Research Articles

Estimation of radon concentration in groundwater in the mining zone of Haryana, India, for lungs and stomach annual effective dose.

The groundwater is being used for drinking and irrigation purposes in vast swathes of the Aravalli Mountain range. Since the radioisotope presence in groundwater is affected by the local mining processes, the radiation monitoring in groundwater of mining regions is of paramount importance. In the present work, we have estimated the 222Rn presence in the mining region of Aravalli in the southern part of Haryana. We measured the Radon concentration in 51 water samples from the intended area using the RAD7 alpha detector. The measured radon concentration in some of the water samples collected from the vicinity of the mining zone is higher than that of the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation recommended value. Furthermore, we have estimated the annual effective doses for the lungs and stomach contributed by ingestion and inhalation. Though the calculated dose values in collected samples are not in the critical range, further monitoring of background radiation in the Aravalli region is required.

Estimation of Radon Concentration around Public Spaces and Residential Homes with Altitude within Cities of Delta State, Nigeria

This study evaluates the radon concentrations in public places and private residences with different altitudes in selected locations in Delta State. These measurements were carried out using a professional radon monitoring instrument (Alpha GUARD PQ2000 PRO) and a geographical positioning system (GPS-Garmin GPS Map 76S). The recorded mean radon concentration varied from 11.70 ± 5.20 Bq/m3 to 23.90 ±16.60 Bq/m3, which is within the WHO acceptable range (100 Bq/m3). The basement had greater radon concentrations than the upper floors in most situations, although there were few exceptions. The average values of the estimated radiation risk parameters, which include equilibrium equivalent radon concentration, the potential alpha energy concentration, radon exhalation rates, and excess lifetime cancer risk due to exposure to radon radiation from their progeny are 4.7 Bq/m3 to 9.5Bq/m3, 1.20 × 10-3mWL to 2.60 × 10-3mWL, 0.04 × 10-3WML/y to 0.09× 10-3 WML/y, 3.7Bq/m2/h to 7.52Bq/m2/h and 2.10 × 10-3 to 3.30 × 10-3 respectively. The calculated radiation risk factors were all found to be within the recommended limits based on the data obtained. The research region is deemed safe and poses no threat to people.

До питання оцінки рівнів радону для здійснення протирадонових заходів

До питання оцінки рівнів радону для здійснення протирадонових заходів

Estimation of Radon Concentration in Soil Samples from Cameron Highlands, Malaysia

Concentrations of radon have been estimated in agricultural soil in Cameron Highlands in Pahang, Malaysia. CR-39 plastic track detectors are used to measure concentration of radon rate in the soil samples. Results reveal that the mean radon concentrations in agricultural soil collected from Cameron Highlands are 198.44 ± 59.44 Bq m-3. These concentrations are below than the action levels of 200 - 600 Bq m-3 as recommended by ICRP. According to the results, the areas of study are safe and do not pose health risks to the population in those areas, and thus the soil can be used for construction materials.

Estimation of radon concentrations and associated radon doses by using active technique in drinking water sources of Abbottabad, KPK, Pakistan

In-situ measurement of radon concentration was carried out in three types of drinking water sources (spring, surface and bore/well). Water samples from all three sources were collected from the city of Abbottabad and its surroundings. Radon concentrations were measured through active technique, using the AB-5 series of portable radiation monitor (Pylon). The mean concentrations (ranges) of radon in the phosphate region were 13.4 ± 2.0 (9.1–23.6), 11.2 ± 1.5 (6.2–20.1) and 7.1 ± 0.9 (4.3–14) kBq m−3 in well, spring and surface waters, respectively. Similarly, the mean concentrations (ranges) of radon outside the phosphate region were 7.2 ± 1.0 (3.4–11.5), 5.4 ± 0.7 (2.5–8.9) and 3.1 ± 0.4 (1.7–5.8) kBq m−3 in well, spring and surface waters, respectively. The arithmetic mean values of radon concentration in drinking waters in the phosphate and non-phosphate parts or rocks were 10.76 ± 1.5 and 5.10 ± 0.70 kBq m−3, respectively. Respective doses of radon taken in by the people via water ingestion and inhalation were calculated as 0.029 ± 0.004 and 0.014 ± 0.002 mSv. The mean values of radon concentrations in drinking water samples collected from Abbottabad phosphate and non-phosphate rocks were below the US EPA Maximum Contamination Level (MCL) of 11.1 kBq m−3. The annual mean effective doses of all samples are lower than the reference level of 0.1 mSv a−1 for drinking water as recommended by WHO. Thus, the drinking water of Abbottabad and its surroundings is generally below the recommended levels as regards to radon-related health hazards.

Estimation of radon concentration in soil and groundwater samples of Northern Rajasthan, India

In the present investigation, analysis of radon concentration in 20 water and soil samples collected from different locations of Bikaner and Jhunjhunu districts of Rajasthan, India has been carried out by using RAD7 an electronic Radon detector. The measured radon concentration in water samples lies in the range from 0.50 to 22 Bq l−1 with the mean value of 4.42 Bq l−1, which lies within the safe limit from 4 to 40 Bq l−1 recommended by United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR, 2008). The total annual effective dose estimated due to radon concentration in water ranges from 1.37 to 60.06 μSV y−1 with the mean value of 12.08 μSV y−1, which is lower than the safe limit 0.1 mSv y−1 as set by World Health Organization (WHO, 2004) and European Council (EU, 1998). Radon measurement in soil samples varies from 941 to 10,050 Bq m−3 with the mean value of 4561 Bq m−3, which lies within the range reported by other investigators. It was observed that the soil and water of Bikaner and Jhunjhunu districts are suitable for drinking and construction purpose without posing any health hazard.

Estimation of radon concentration in groundwater of coastal area in Baleshwar district of Odisha, India

The present study was carried out to determine the distribution of radon (222Rn) activity concentration measured using Durridge RAD-7 in the groundwater samples in the coastal area of Baleshwar district, Odisha, India. The 222Rn activities in 10 groundwater samples of coastal area of Baleshwar were measured and the values of 222Rn ranged between 1.6 ± 0.21 and 17.0 ± 1.69 kBq m−3 with an average value of 8.98 ± 0.85 kBq m−3, and seven samples were well within the Environmental Protection Agency's maximum contaminant level of 11.1 kBq m−3 while three samples were more than the maximum contaminant level of 11.1 kBq m−3. The effective dose per m3 and annual effective dose values were varying with respect to the increase in radon concentration and were significantly lower than the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation and WHO recommended limit for members of the public of 1 mSv y−1.

Estimation of radon concentration in dwellings in and around Guwahati

It has been established that radon and its airborne decay products can present serious radiation hazards. A long term exposure to high concentration of radon causes lung cancer. Besides, it is also known that out of the total radiation dose received from natural and man-made sources, 60% of the dose is due to radon and its progeny. Taking this into account, an attempt has been made to estimate radon concentration in dwellings in and around Guwahati using aluminium dosimeter cups with CR-39 plastic detectors. Results of preliminary investigation presented in this paper show that the mean concentration is 21.31 Bq m − 3.

Statistical model of quality of radon measurements using electret ion chamber detectors

This paper presents a statistical model for estimating probability, which states that a quality of radon measurements using the electret ion chamber system RM-1 will be accurate. The quality of the electret measurement was modelled as a ratio between the reference radon concentration and values measured under real conditions with varied levels of indoor radon concentration and microclimate indoor conditions. It was stated that the accuracy tolerance of measured values is 20 % of the given reference value. To estimate the uncertainty of the statistical model, the exact confidence limits for the estimated probabilities are computed. The statistical model was confirmed by an independent set of measurements. Moreover, the effect of absolute humidity on the quality estimation of electret detectors are also statistically analysed and discussed. The results of the statistical model confirm that the electret system is robust and suitable for estimation of radon concentration.

QA programme for radon and its short-lived progeny measuring instruments in NRPI Prague

To subserve the institutional research and tasks coming out from the Czech National Radon Programme, a new QA programme to calibrate all the known types of devices that measure radon and its short-lived progeny was developed at the Department of Radon mobile group of the National Radiation Protection Institute (NRPI) at Prague. The programme also included calibration of instruments measuring a unique quantity of unattached and attached fractions of short- lived radon progeny Generally, NRPI declares estimation of radon concentration during all routine calibration measurements with an overall uncertainty <5% (one sigma) and of equilibrium-equivalent radon concentration with an overall uncertainty <10% (one sigma). The results of the comparative measurements of the unattached and attached fractions of each short-lived radon progeny carried out with a comparing continuous monitor Fritra 4 in the German reference radon chamber at PTB Braunschweig indicated an acceptable level of agreement, up to 10%.

Estimating the spatial-temporal distribution of Radon releases from the K-65 silos

This study investigates the spatial and temporal distribution of Radon at the Department of Energy's (DOE) Fernald Environmental Management Project (FEMP), in southwest Ohio in 1999. It employs the United States Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Industrial Source Complex Short Term 3 (ISCST3) dispersion model, existing monitoring data and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) as tools to develop an integrated radiological monitoring, assessment and protection technique. This study develops a three-stage hybrid model that takes advantage of both spatial interpolation and dispersion modelling. Specifically the model involves the initial estimation of source emission rates, estimation of Radon concentration at sampling locations, and interpolation of the estimates at discrete locations to generate a continuous surface. Arcview GIS is used to simulate 'pollution hotspot' maps and digital surfaces from ISCST3 estimations. Multiple digital, vector pollution contour, raster grid surfaces and hard copy pollution thematic maps can now be generated for FEMP and vicinity.

Estimation of radon concentrations in coal mines using a hybrid technique calibration curve

Natural radioactivity in air, soil and water samples has been determined in Dera Ismail (D.I.) Khan city and its adjacent areas in Pakistan. CR-39 detectors were used for investigating radon concentration in the air of different kinds of rooms. HPGe detectors were employed for gamma ray activity measurements in the soil used normally to produce the construction materials. 235U concentration was determined from water by drying the water drops on CN-85 detectors and irradiating them with thermal neutrons.

Estimation of radon concentrations in coal mines using a hybrid technique calibration curve

The results of epidemiological studies in various countries show that radon and its progeny cause carcinogenic effects on mine workers. Therefore, it becomes of paramount importance to monitor radon concentrations and consequently determine the radon dose rates in coal mines for the protection of coal miners. A new calibration curve was obtained for radon concentration estimation using hybrid techniques. A calibration curve was generated using 226Ra activity concentration measured by a HPGe detector-based gamma-ray spectrometer versus α-track-density rate due to radon and its progeny on CR-39 track detector. Using the slope of the experimentally determined curve in the units of Becqueral per kilogram (Bq kg −1) per unit α-track-density per hour (cm −2 h −1), radon concentrations (Bq m −3) were estimated using coal samples from various coal mines in two provinces of Pakistan, Punjab and Balochistan. Consequently, radon dose rates were computed in the simulated environment of the coal mines. Results of these computations may be considered with a caveat that the method developed in this paper provides only a screening method to indicate the radon dose in coal mines. It has been shown that the actual measurements of radon concentrations in the coal mines are in agreement with the estimated radon concentrations using the hybrid-technique calibration curve.

Modelling the atmospheric dispersion of radon originating from area sources connected with uranium milling and mining facilities / Modellierung der atmosphärischen Dispersion von Radon aus Flächenquellen in der Umgebung von Uranbergbau und Erzaufbereitungsanlagen

Under the government of the former German Democratic Republic a multitude of area sources for radon exhalation have built up in context with uranium milling and mining activities, in the Federal States of Thuringia, Saxony, and Saxony-Anhalt. The European Commission and the Bundesamt fur Strahlenschutz funded a project to investigate source term along with atmospheric transport and diffusion of radon emanating from area sources in the vicinity of Lengenfeld (Saxony), where 'typical' compositions of a variety of area sources have been identified. The Lengenfeld area is characterized by low-range orographic structures. Source strengths have been determined experimentally in this area within an onsite series of programs; long-term meteorological data for two sites were available for the modelling of atmospheric dispersion over a quadratic area (5 km x 5 km) by means of the Gaussian model MILDOS-AREA, and the program system WITRAK/ WIKLI. It has been proved that the complex modelling of flow and dispersion paths based on WITRAK/WIKLI yields results, which are more realistic than those obtained using the Gaussian type model MILDOS-AREA. Additionally, nomograms have been prepared, on the basis of a particle simulation model (LASAT), to enable a rapid and easy estimation of radon concentrations in the immediate vicinity of normalized area sources. These normalized calculations have been carried out for 6 different stability classes. For selected stability classes the effect of varying wind speeds on resulting radon concentrations in the environment is shown.

Statistical Evidence of the Geological Control over Radon Soil Gas Concentrations and its Implications for Mapping Radon Potential

Determining how radon varies spatially over a given area in the natural environment is important for defining high risk areas and has implications for building practice. To achieve the former, radon concentrations in three areas of the English Midlands were surveyed. The first area comprised a single rock formation near Hereford (described elsewhere). The others, reported here, were areas where elevated concentrations of radon were expected. One was an area comprising two major rock types near Buxton in Derbyshire where a multistage sampling design was used to determine the approximate spatial scale of variation in soil radon concentration. The third was an area of more complex geology near Nottingham, where sampling along a transect enabled the structure and scale of variation to be determined. In all of the areas radon concentrations varied considerably, both over large and small distances. The data were analysed using methods embodied in geostatistics. The results showed that structure in the spatial variation of radon for the Buxton and Nottingham surveys at the longer scale could be attributed to the effect of lithology. The latter appears to account for approximately 50% of the total variation in both surveys. These results have important implications for mapping radon and also for building programmes, insurance, etc. They also suggest that to estimate radon reliably at the local level by interpolation would generally require very intensive sampling, i.e. at a scale of metres rather than kilometres. However, stratification of an area based on geology, with sampling within the strata designed to estimate average radon concentrations optimally, would provide reasonable estimates in certain situations for somewhat less sampling effort. This could provide a quick and efficient means of assessing the general radon potential of a given area. The best estimate of radon concentration at an unsampled site would then be the mean for that particular rock formation. However, if exact values are needed then radon should be measured in situ.