Residential radon exposure in some areas of Bangalore city, India

GV Ashok; N Nagaiah; NG Shiva Prasad; MR Ambika; LA Sathish; N Karunakara

doi:10.4103/0972-0464.112338

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ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Year : 2012 | Volume : 35 | Issue : 2 | Page : 59-63

Residential radon exposure in some areas of Bangalore city, India

GV Ashok¹, N Nagaiah², NG Shiva Prasad³, MR Ambika², LA Sathish⁴, N Karunakara⁵
¹ Department of Physics, Government College (Autonomous), Mandya, India
² Department of Physics, Bangalore University, Bangalore, India
³ Department of Physics, Government First Grade College, Srirangapatna, India
⁴ Department of Physics, Government Science College, Bangalore, India
⁵ USIC, Mangalore University, Mangalore, India

Correspondence Address:
N Nagaiah
Associate Professor, Department of Physics, Bangalore University, Jnanabharahi Campus, Bangalore - 560 056
India

Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None

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DOI: 10.4103/0972-0464.112338

Background: Two isotopes, ²²² Rn and ²²⁰ Rn of the natural radioactive gas radon are generally of radiological importance. About half of the total radiation effective dose to the general public is due to the irradiation of the lungs by alpha particles following the inhalation of radon decay products. In view of this, ²²² Rn and ²²⁰ Rn measurements were carried out for a period of 1 year in about 50 dwellings belonging to different residential areas of Bangalore city. The results obtained were systematically analysed and discussed. Materials and Methods: ²²² Rn and ²²⁰ Rn measurements were carried using Solid State Nuclear Track Detectors. The gamma exposure rate measurements were also carried out in all the dwellings using a G M tube based Environmental Radiation Dosimeter. Results: The concentration of ²²² Rn and ²²⁰ Rn was found to be highest in the dwellings having mud flooring (Bare) and lowest in the dwellings having mosaic flooring. The geometric mean values of the concentrations of ²²² Rn and ²²⁰ Rn were found to be 24.1 ± 8.3 and 24.5 ± 10.8 Bq m ^-3 respectively. The annual mean value of the gamma absorbed dose rate is found to be 175.8 nGy y ^-1 . Conclusion: The mean value of radon concentration is well within the indian average (42 Bq m ^-3 ) and world average (40 Bq m ^-3 ) values. The mean effective dose was found to be 1.19 mSv y ^-1 and is well within the action level as prescribed by ICRP-65.

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