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Radiological assessment of 222Rn, 220Rn, EERC, and EETC in residential dwellings of district Palwal, Southern Haryana, India

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Abstract

A systematic measurement of radon/thoron concentration by using pin-holes dosimeter and their decay products by deposition based progeny sensors have been carried out in indoor environment of district Palwal, Southern Haryana, India. LR-115 type-II of cellulose nitrate with thick polyester base film was used as detectors. A total 150 locations were selected for measurements over a period of 40 days. In this paper, results of winter season are reported and compared with results of summer and rainy season. The measured average indoor thoron gas concentration (34.6 ± 1.5) is about 3.5 times higher than the world average value (10 Bq m−3). The average values for radon concentration, EERC, and EETC is found below the world average values of 40 Bq m−3 for radon, 15 Bq m−3 for EERC, and 0.5 Bq m−3 for EETC. The average annual effective dose inhaled by humans was estimated and compared with recommended limits of ICRP and WHO.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to Board of Research in Nuclear Sciences (BRNS), Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Government of India, for extending financial assistance vide Project No. (36(4)/14/2014-BRNS/36018) dated 26/02/2016 for carrying out this work. Authors are also thankful to Dr. B. K. Sahoo, Scientific Officer, RP&AD, BARC, Mumbai, for his cooperation in research activities.

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Singh, B., Kant, K. & Garg, M. Radiological assessment of 222Rn, 220Rn, EERC, and EETC in residential dwellings of district Palwal, Southern Haryana, India. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 331, 701–713 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-021-08163-3

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