An Innovative Method for Mitigation of Radon: A Case Study in Bangalore Area, Karnataka, India

Introduction: Elevated radon levels in the indoor environment in many countries that led to the realization of residential radon as being a possible public health issue in the western world. It was also hoped that in conjunction with epidemiological studies, large-scale indoor radon surveys might lead to quantitative understanding of the low dose effects of radon exposures. Earlier work for the environment of Bangalore city reveals that, the activity concentrations of 226Ra in soil varied in the range of 7.7–111.6 Bqkg-1 with a mean value of 26.2 Bqkg-1. The concentration of 232Th varied in the range 16.7–98.7 Bqkg-1 with a mean value of 53.1 Bqkg-1 and that of 40K in the range 151.8 –1424.2 Bqkg-1 with a mean value of 635.1 Bqkg-1. An attempt has been made to observe the reduction in radon concentration by deploying lamination on the walls and mosaic tiles on the floorings of the room. Objectives: Radon mitigation is a new approach to minimize the radioactive gases in the working environment.  In view of this an attempt has been made to witness the reduction in radon concentrations due to Formica laminate on the walls and placing mosaic tiles on the flooring of the room.  Methods: CAN technique and solid state nuclear track detectors based dosimeters are used for the observation of radon exhalation and the concentration of radon/thoron levels in a room. . Results: Good reduction in radon levels were observed after deploying the Formica laminate on the walls of the room and the mosaic on the floorings of the room. This is an innovative method needs to be incorporated for the reduction in higher level concentrations.  Conclusions: Reduction in concentration is more than 50% after renovation and it may be used as an innovative approach.