Estimation of 222Rn, 220Rn exhalation rate and 226Ra, 232Th, 40K radionuclides in the soil samples of different regions of Gurdaspur district, Punjab. (2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kumar, Manish; Sharma, Navjeet
• Is Part Of: Materials today. Volume 49:Part 8(2022)
• Page Start: 3396
• Page End: 3402
• Publication Date: 2022
• Subjects: Radon mass exhalation -- Thoron surface exhalation -- Gamma ray spectrometer and SMART RnDuo; Materials science -- Congresses -- Periodicals; 620.1
• DOI: 10.1016/j.matpr.2021.02.806
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2214-7853

Abstract

Abstract: Soil is the main source of concentration of radon and thoron gases in the indoor environment. The level of radon and thoron concentration mainly depends upon the radium, thorium contents and radon exhalation, thoron exhalation from the soil. The exhalation rate is the primary index to estimate the natural radioactivity potential of soil. The radium, thorium and potassium activity concentration were analyzed by NaI (Tl) gamma ray spectrometer. Radon and thoron surface exhalation rates were determined by scintillation-based detector SMART RnDuo Portable Radon Monitor. The geometric mean value of radon mass exhalation rate is 1.3 mBqkg -1 h −1 and thoron surface exhalation rate is and 951.5 mBqm -2 s −1 . The geometric mean values of activity concentration of 226 Ra, 232 Th and 40 K were 30.3 Bqkg −1, 45.8 Bqkg −1 and 339.9 Bqkg −1 respectively. The Radium equivalent activity concentration for all the soil samples was below the level of 370 Bqkg −1, recommended for building materials, by OECD 1979 (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development).