A study of radon, thoron and annual effective dose in some Egyptian dwellings by twin-cup dosimeter technique with LR-115 detectors

Abstract

In the present study, Solid State Nuclear Track Detectors (LR-115–type II) based twin-cup dosimeters were used for estimating radon (222Rn) and thoron (220Rn) gas concentration levels in the environmental air of thirty dwellings in ten cities in Egypt. In the studied dwellings radon concentration levels were found to vary from 24.80 ± 3.98 to 39.71 ± 8.71 Bq m−3 with an average of 32.64 ± 4.34 Bq m−3 whereas thoron concentration is found to vary from 10.46 ± 2.87 to 15.41 ± 2.72 Bq m−3 with an average of 12.48 ± 1.58 Bq m−3. The total annual effective dose by the inhabitants of these dwellings due to radon and thoron was found below the recommended limit by the international agencies. The present study concluded that the dwellings are safe without posing significant radiological threats to human beings.