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Evaluation of indoor 222Rn and 220Rn concentrations in Dakshina Kannada, Karnataka, India

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Abstract

Naturally occurring radioactive gases which tend to build up (radon and thoron) in indoor environs can cause deleterious health effects including the development of lung cancer. The present study aims to measure 222Rn and 220Rn levels in dwellings in different seasons in the environs of Dakshina Kannada region of India. The 222Rn and 220Rn concentrations were measured in the monsoon, autumn, winter, and summer seasons using Solid State Nuclear Track Detector (SSNTD, LR–115 type II) films fixed in single-entry pinhole cylindrical twin-cup dosimeters. The higher 222Rn levels in indoors were observed during winter with an average concentration of 38.8 Bq m−3 and lower during summer with an average of 14.1 Bq m−3. The average indoor thoron concentration was also highest in winter with an average value of 25.5 Bq m−3 and lowest in summer with 8.8 Bq m−3. The annual inhalation dose ranged from 0.44 to 1.06 mSv year−1 with a mean value of 0.66 mSv year−1. The annual effective dose varied from 1.03 to 2.57 mSv year−1 with an average value of 1.59 mSv year−1. The assessed values have been contrasted with the limit suggested by the UNSCEAR and the ICRP and were found to be within the permissible level. The normality of frequency distribution curves of 222Rn and 220Rn concentrations was assessed by the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the house owners of Dakshina Kannada district for their support during the fieldwork studies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, Mangalore University, Mangalagangothri, 574 199, India

    Lokesh Narsha, Sandesh Achari, Malleshi Kavasara & Narayana Yerol

  2. Department of Physics, Beary’s Institute of Technology, Mangalore, 574 153, India

    Vinutha Pudiyaneravana Ramanand

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  1. Lokesh Narsha
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Lokesh Narsha: fieldwork, data collection, and manuscript preparation. Vinutha Pudiyaneravana Ramanand: resources, review, and editing. Sandesh Achari: support in fieldwork and sample collection. Malleshi Kavasara: support in sample preparation and preparation of manuscript. Narayana Yerol: conceptualization, supervision, and review of the manuscript.

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Narsha, L., Ramanand, V.P., Achari, S. et al. Evaluation of indoor 222Rn and 220Rn concentrations in Dakshina Kannada, Karnataka, India. Environ Monit Assess 195, 592 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-023-11217-6

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