The influence of soil characteristics on radon/thoron concentrations in soil gas, radon exhalation rate and in ambient air in Kuwait

Abstract

The influence of soil characteristics on outdoor radon concentrations, radon exhalation from soil surface, and radon/thoron in the soil were studied in Kuwait. Field measurements were carried out in 20 sites beset with different types of soil, using AlphaGuard radon monitor. Grain size analysis of the collected soil samples were performed, moisture content and soil porosity were determined. The grain size analysis revealed that the soils belong to gravelly sand and muddy sand category. The results showed that the study area is characterized by low levels of outdoor radon concentration with a mean value of 9 Bq/m³, and the low radon exhalation rates range from 2.84 to 18.16 mBq/m²s with a mean value of 9.70 mBq/m²s. Correlation of studies show that radon exhalation rate is influenced by the soil type, moisture content, compaction and effective porosity. The relatively high exhalation rates were recorded in the dry, friable gravelly sand soil, while the lower values were recorded in the wet, compacted muddy sand soil.