Estimation Of Radon, Thoron, And Their Progeny Concentration In Selected Dwellings Near The Sugar Mills Of Uttar Pradesh And Uttarakhand, India

Abstract

Radon gas is the prime contributor to natural radiation and poses a significant human health risk. Radon is the second leading cause of cancer after smoking. The estimation of the level of naturally occurring gases become important for determining radiation risk and has been the subject of interest of researchers worldwide. In the present study, the survey of radon, thoron, and their daughter’s product concentration has been carried out in the dwelling situated nearby selected sugar mills of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand state of India by using a pin-hole dosimeter and direct radon/thoron progeny sensor with LR-115 Solid State Nuclear Track Detector (SSNTDs). The results show that the average value of radon and thoron concentration varied from 28.37 Bqm^-3 to 43.02 Bqm^-3, and 17.67 Bqm^-3 to 25.04 Bqm^-3 respectively. The average value of radon and thoron progeny concentration varied from 6.71 Bqm^-3 to 14.16 Bqm^-3, and 0.70 Bqm^-3 to 1.41 Bqm^-3 respectively.