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Increased radon concentration in Katalekhor tourist cave during an earthquake compared with 10 years of follow-up data

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Abstract

On May 27, 2008, a strong earthquake of magnitude 5.3 Richter hit Zanjan province. The radon concentration has been measured and registered at the time of earthquake occurrence at 10:48 local time inside the Katalekhor cave being situated at suburb of Zanjan city. After this event, it was planned to measure and analyze the radon concentration in the same year (2008) and 10 years after the earthquake (2018) by using passive methods and the results have been presented. Real time observations show an increase of five times in radon concentration when earthquake happened comparing to normal condition.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to extend their gratitude to Dr. M. R. Kardan for his support, Dr. S. M. Hosseini Pooya and Mr. M. R. Sadeghkhani for their valuable assistance in the laboratory. Also the cooperation assistance of the cave managements and staff in the distribution of the detectors is appreciated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Radiation Protection Department, Iranian Nuclear Regulatory Authority, End of North Kargar, Tehran, 14155-1339, Iran

    Mehran Taheri, Samaneh Baradaran & Mansour Jafarizadeh

  2. Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute, End of North Kargar, Tehran, 14395-836, Iran

    Samaneh Baradaran & Mansour Jafarizadeh

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  1. Mehran Taheri
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  2. Samaneh Baradaran
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  3. Mansour Jafarizadeh
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Correspondence to Samaneh Baradaran.

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Taheri, M., Baradaran, S. & Jafarizadeh, M. Increased radon concentration in Katalekhor tourist cave during an earthquake compared with 10 years of follow-up data. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 326, 911–918 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-020-07389-x

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