Assessment of Radon (222Rn) and Thoron (220Rn) in Environmental Resources of a High-Background-Radiation Area, India

Abstract

The cornerstone of the study is to quantify the ²²²Rn/²²⁰Rn levels and the associated health risk in the environment of a heavy mineral-rich area in India. ²²²Rn and ²²⁰Rn activity was measured in environmental resources like soil, water, and indoor air. The analysis was performed using a well-calibrated online ²²²Rn/²²⁰Rn monitor (RAD 7) which is having a solid-state semiconductor detector system. The ²²²Rn depth profile in soil gas and exhalation rates of ²²²Rn and ²²⁰Rn from soil were monitored. The measured ²²²Rn activity in the indoor air of the study area concluded an effective radiation dose of 0.44–1.81 mSv.y⁻¹ and an ELCR of 0.17–0.7%. Groundwater and surface waters from the high-background-radiation area were also analysed for dissolved ²²²Rn activity which contributes to a total radiation dose from 2.7 to 21.4 µSv.y⁻¹.