Indoor Radon Measurements in Dwellings of Some Areas of Upper Siwaliks, India using SSNTDs

Abstract

The presence of radon and its decay products in the human environment are considered a potential health hazardous and measurement of them is important to assess the threat they might pose. Keeping this in view, indoor radon measurements were carried out in dwellings of different villages belonging to the upper Siwaliks of Kala Amb, Nahan, and Morni Hills, India using the LR-115 type II cellulose nitrate films in the bare mode. The annual average radon concentration in the studied area was measured in the range from 71.7 ± 21.0 to 421.7 ± 33.6 Bq·m-3. The levels of radon activity were found to be within the action level internationally recommended by ICRP. The average annual effective dose was found to vary from 1.22 to 7.20 mSv per year. Gamma ray activities were also measured in the dwellings of different villages to look for a possible correlation between indoor radon and gamma ray levels in the study area. The values of gamma ray activity were found to vary from 9.75 to 17.50 μR·h-1. The values of indoor radon concentration and gamma ray activity in the study area were compared with those from the adjoining nonradioactive areas of Punjab.