LR-115 Plastic Track Detectors Research Articles

Investigation of radon concentrations and effective radium content in soils and dwellings of Wolaita Sodo Town, Ethiopia

Background: People in the world have always been exposed continuously to natural radionuclides originated from the Earth's crust. Radionuclide of terrestrial origin like radon is the most abundant in the environment and the second leading cancer risk next to cigarette. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the radon concentration and effective radium content in soil samples and dwellings of Wolaita Sodo town, Ethiopia. Materials and Methods: A total of 35 soil samples and 24 records in dwellings were collected. The radon concentrations and effective radium content in soil samples and dwellings were estimated using LR-115 plastic track detector and alpha spectroscopy, respectively. Results: The result shows the concentrations of radon gas and effective radium content in soil samples ranges from 74.74 to 436.97 Bq/m3 with an average value of 221.4 Bq/m3 and 89.30–522.07 Bq/kg with an average value of 264.54 Bq/kg respectively. While radon in dwellings ranges from 30.78 to 708.12 Bq/m3 with an average value of 236.72 Bq/m3. Conclusion: Generally, the average radon concentration both in soil samples and dwellings of the area was higher than the recommended level by the International Commission on Radiation Protection.

Measurement of radioactive nuclides present in soil samples of district Ganderbal of Kashmir Province for radiation safety purposes

Assessment of radioactive elements in the residential area is very important from different points of view especially for human health. The aim of present survey was focused on determining the current radon exhalation rate and radium concentration in soil samples collected from some areas of the Ganderbal district, Jammu and Kashmir, India. “Can technique” has been employed for the measurement of radon exhalation rate and radium concentration in soil samples collected from under study areas. The Uranium concentration in these soil samples where estimated by using the fission track registration technique (using LR-115 plastic track detectors).The uranium concentration was found to varies between 2.03 and 3.52 ppm. The radon exhalation rate in these samples has been found to vary from 5.05 to 21.89 m Bq kg−1 h−1. Radium concentration in soil samples varies from 6.43 to 18.89 Bq kg−1. The calculated values of Uranium concentration in these soil/rock samples are quite lower than the risk level. Radon and radium values found in these samples are also lower than that of optimum value. Hence these areas can be considered as risk free zones from human health point of view.

Survey of radon and thoron in homes of Indian Himalaya

Measurements of radon, thoron and their progeny were carried out in some houses from Garhwal and Kumaun Himalayas of India using a LR-115 plastic track detector. The measurements were made in various residential houses of the area at a height of 2.5 m above the ground level using a twin chamber radon dosemeter, which can record the values of radon, thoron and their progeny separately. The concentrations of radon and thoron in these homes were found to vary from 11 to 191 and 1 to 156 Bq m(-3), respectively. The equilibrium factor between radon and progeny varies from 0.02 to 0.90, with an average of 0.26 for the region. The resulting dose rate due to radon, thoron and their decay products was found to vary from 0.02 to 0.84 μSv h(-1) with an arithmetic mean of 0.27 μSv h(-1). A detailed analysis of the distribution of radon, thoron and their decay products inside a house is also reported. The observed dose rates due to radon, thoron and progeny were found somewhat higher but well below the international recommendations.

Radium Studies in Sand Samples Collected from Sea Coast of Tirur, Kerala, India Using LR-115 Plastic Track Detectors

Radium is naturally occurring solid radioactive element in the earths surface and it is chemically similar to calcium and is absorbed from soil by plants and passed up the food chain to humans. High intake or body exposure to radium causes serious health hazards and may result in bone cancer. Track etch technique has been used with LR-115 type II plastic track detector to measure the effective radium content of sand samples collected from the sea coast (Unniyal beach) of Tirur of Malappuram district of Kerala state (India). The value of effective radium content ranges from 45.6 to 226.1 Bq/Kg with an average of 111.9 Bq/Kg. The content of radium observed in the samples of this region is insignificant regarding health related concern.

Radioactivity measurements in the environment of the Udhampur area, Jammu and Kashmir Himalayas, India

LR-115 plastic track detectors have been used for the measurement of radon exhalation rate and radium concentration in soil samples collected from some villages of the Udhampur district, Jammu and Kashmir, India. Uranium concentration has also been determined in these soil samples using the fission track registration technique. Radium concentration in soil samples varies from 5.46 to 19.17 Bqkg−1, whereas uranium concentration varies from 2.53 to 3.65 ppm. The radon exhalation rate in these samples has been found to vary from 6.42 to 22.47 mB kg−1 hr−1. The work is undertaken for health risk assessments due to uranium and radium in the study area. A positive correlation has been observed between uranium and radium, as well as uranium and radon exhalation rate in soil samples.

Measurement of effective radium content of sand samples collected from Chhatrapur beach, Orissa, India using track etch technique

Track etch technique using LR-115 plastic track detectors has been used to measure the effective radium content of sand samples collected from Chhatrapur beach of Orissa state (India). The values of effective radium content have been found to vary from 63.6 to 773.5 Bq kg - 1 within about ± 15 % . The values for 13 samples were found below and values for 7 samples were found above the limit of 370 Bq kg - 1 recommended for the safe use of building materials for dwellings by Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

Study of indoor radon and its progeny levels in rural areas of North India using LR-115 plastic track detectors

This paper presents the values of potential alpha energy concentration (PAEC) and concentration of radon measured in 51 houses of four Indian villages. The value of PAEC varies from 2.1 ± 0.2 to 300.8 ± 2.6 mWL with a geometric mean value of 29.7 ± 0.8 mWL . The value of the concentration of radon varies from 19.4 ± 1.9 to 2782.6 ± 23.7 Bq / m 3 with a geometric mean value of 255.5 ± 7.1 Bq / m 3 . The values of effective dose are found to vary from 0.34 ± 0.03 to 48.11 ± 0.41 mSv / yr with a geometric mean value of 4.8 ± 0.12 mSv / yr . Most of the values have been found to be higher than the values in urban dwellings.

Uranium, Radium and Radon Measurements in the Environs of Nurpur Area, Himachal Himalayas, India

LR-115 plastic track detectors have been used for the measurement of radon exhalation rate and radium concentration in soil and rock samples from Nurpur and its adjoining areas of Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh, India. Uranium concentration is also determined in these samples using fission track technique. The work is undertaken to explore the possibility of uranium prospection and health risk assessments due to uranium and radium in the study area. A positive correlation has been observed between uranium and radon exhalation rate in soil and rocks.

Geological significance of soil gas radon: A case study of Nurpur area, district Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, India

Remote sensing satellite data have been used to recognize structures having tectonic significance. Based on satellite data, lineament map of Nurpur and its adjoining area of Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh, India, has been generated. LR-115 plastic track detectors have been used for the measurement of soil gas radon at 71 different locations of the study area. The results indicate zones of tectonically induced soil gas radon and the lineament density, which are co-relatable with the regional geology of the area.

Radon monitoring in a thermal power plant

Radon survey has been carried out in the environs of Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Power Plant located in Bathinda city of Punjab, India, using LR-115 plastic track detectors. The annual average radon concentration has been found to vary from a minimum of 46.5 ± 16.9 Bq m - 3 in the boiler area to a maximum of about 106.4 ± 36.2 Bq m - 3 in other locations of the plant with a mean value of 79.2 ± 32.5 Bq m - 3 . The seasonal variations of radon in the plant are also reported. The annual average radon concentration in the dwellings of the Thermal Power colony of the Plant is 124.5 ± 19.5 Bq m - 3 . These values are below the recommended action levels.

Levels of indoor radon, thoron, and their progeny in Himalaya

Levels of radon, thoron, and their progeny were measured in the houses of Garhwal and Kumaun Himalaya using LR-115 plastic track detectors. Radon and thoron concentrations were found to vary from 7 to 191 Bq/m 3, and from 1 to 145 Bq/m 3, respectively. The equilibrium factor between radon and progeny varies from 0.02 to 0.90, with an average of 0.26 for the region. The resulting dose rate due to radon, thoron, and their decay products varied from 0.04 to 1.89 μSv/h with an average of 0.96 μSv/h. In comparison to the international recommendations, the observed dose rates due to radon, thoron and progeny was found somewhat higher but well below the international recommendations.

Radon and thoron monitoring in the environment of Kumaun Himalayas: survey and outcomes

Monitoring of radon, thoron and their daughter products was carried out in houses of Kumaun Himalaya, India using LR-115 plastic track detectors. The measurements were made in residential houses from June 1999 to May 2000 at a height of 2.5 m from ground level using a twin chamber radon dosimeter. The twin chamber radon dosimeter can record the values of radon, thoron and their decay products separately. Maximum and minimum indoor radon and thoron concentrations were evaluated and activity concentrations of radon and thoron daughters were estimated. The resulting dose rates due to radon, thoron and their decay products varied from 0.04 to 1.89 μSv/h. A detailed analysis of the distribution of radon, thoron and their decay products inside the house is also reported. The observed dose rates inside the houses of Kumaun Himalaya were found to be lower than the ICRP recommended value of 200 Bq/m 3 and thus are within safe limits.

Study of uranium, radium and radon exhalation rate in soil samples from some areas of Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh, India using solid-state nuclear track detectors

LR-115 plastic track detectors have been used for the measurement of radon exhalation rate and radium concentration in soil samples collected from some villages of Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh, India. Uranium concentration has also been determined in these soil samples using fission track technique. Radium concentration in soil samples has been found to vary from 11.54 to 26.71 Bq Kg −1 , whereas uranium concentration varies from 0.75 to 2.06 ppm . The radon exhalation rate in these samples has been found to vary from 15.16 to 35.11 mBq Kg −1 h −1 (502.12 to 1162.64 mBq m −2 h −1 ).

Radon level in dwellings and its correlation with uranium and radium content in some areas of Himachal Pradesh, India

LR-115 plastic track detectors have been used to measure indoor radon level in some dwellings of Una district, Himachal Pradesh, India. The annual average radon concentration in dwellings in most of the villages falls in the range of the action level recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection. The radon values in some of the dwellings exceed the action level and may be unsafe from the health hazard point of view. The indoor radon values are in general higher in winter than in summer. Uranium, radium and radon exhalation studies have also been carried out in soil samples collected from these areas. A good correlation is obtained between uranium concentration in the soil and indoor radon in dwellings. The soil radon exhalation rate also correlates with the uranium concentration in soil.

Radon diffusion studies in some building materials using solid state nuclear track detectors

LR-115 plastic track detector has been used to study radon diffusion through some building materials, viz. cement, soil, marble chips, sand and lime as well as air. Diffusion constant and diffusion length is calculated for all these materials.

Correlation between geology and radon levels in groundwater, soil and indoor air in Bhilangana Valley, Garhwal Himalaya, India

Radon concentrations were measured in soil, air and groundwater in Bhilangana Valley, Garhwal Himalaya, India by using an LR-115 plastic track detector and radon emanometer. Radon concentrations were found to vary from 1 KBq/m3 to 57 KBq/m3 in soil , 5 Bq/l to 887 Bq/l in water and 95 Bq/m3 to 208 Bq/m3 in air. The recorded values are quite high due to associated uranium mineralization in the area. Radon concentration was also found to depend on the tectonic structure and geology of the area.

Calibration of LR-115 Plastic Track Detectors for Environmental Radon Measurements

Solid-state nuclear track detectors are widely used for integrated measure ments of radon and its daughter products in the environment. However, these detectors have to be calibrated before use in field measurements. In the present work, LR-115 type II plastic track detectors have been calibrated in bare mode in a chamber containing a known radon concentration. The cali bration factor measured for this mode was 125 tracks.cm-2.d-1 = 1 WL (3.12 x 10-2 tracks.cm -2.d-1 = 1 Bq.m-3).

Calibration of LR-115 Plastic Track Detectors for Environmental Radon Measurements

Solid-state nuclear track detectors are widely used for integrated measurements of radon and its daughter products in the environment. However, these detectors have to be calibrated before use in field measurements. In the present work, LR-115 type II plastic track detectors have been calibrated in bare mode in a chamber containing a known radon concentration. The calibration factor measured for this mode was 125 tracks-cm^-2-d^-1 = 1 WL(3.12 X 10^-2 tracks-cm^-2 d^-1 = 1 Bq m^-3).

Nuclear track detectors for radon monitoring in coal mines in the Kouzbass Siberian region (Russian confederation)

The main source of exposure to radiation for both workers and civilians in mining areas is known to be the inhalation of radon and its short-lived daughters. The actual data obtained from measured radon levels stimulated research on radiation-induced human health risks from this type of exposure.A radon survey was consequently carried out in the Kouzbass coal-mining area near Kemerovo. Radon measurements were taken in mines, schools and different dwellings, using special cells with LR115 plastic track detectors. For each building studied, radon concentration levels were measured at four different points: in the ground (outside), in the cellar, on the ground floor and in storeys. In mines, radon was measured in all of the galleries and in open air.Preliminary results will be used in mapping out radon emanation in the Kouzbass Region and in indicating the areas where protection measures are to be taken due to abnormally-high radon levels.

Environmental radon studies using solid-state nuclear track detectors

Solid-state nuclear track detector are extensively used in various fields including radiation dosimetry, high-energy particle physics and laser fusion physics. These detectors have also been applied to the measurement of low-level radiation in the environment, detection of fast neutrons and radon dosimetry in radiation protection. This paper presents the results of radon measurements in the indoor atmosphere of Guru Nanak Dev University campus using LR-115 plastic track detectors. The observed radon values are compared with the standard recommended value and the maximum recorded value is found to be within the limit.