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Study of radon flux and natural radionuclides (226Ra, 232Th and 40K) in the Main Boundary Thrust region of Garhwal Himalaya

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Abstract

The Himalayan region is subdivided lithologically into four regions in which the junction between the lower Himalaya and Shivalik is known as the Main Boundary Thrust (MBT). It is well known that the environmental radon concentration depends upon various geological factors including faults, thrust, cracks and the composition of the soil. Radon gas eventually comes out from the fault/thrust zones having radium as its prominent source. Hence, it is important to study the behaviour of emission of radon present inside the earth crust as well as the levels of natural radionuclides in soil. In this study, the levels of natural radionuclides and exhalation rates of radon in the soil of MBT region of Garhwal Himalaya, India, were determined by using gamma ray spectrometer and scintillation detector-based Smart Radon Monitor, respectively. The average activities of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K were found 71.9, 88.2 and 893.6 Bq Kg−1, respectively. The measured radon surface flux was found to vary from 13.08 to 1626.4 Bq m−2 h−1 with a mean value of 256.5 Bq m−2 h−1. The measured activity levels were used to assess the doses associated with the contaminated soil.

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Acknowledgements

The first author (TK) is obligated to University Grant Commission (UGC), New Delhi, India, for the financial cooperation provided in the form of research fellowship scheme.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, H.N.B. Garhwal University, Badshahi Thaul Campus, Tehri Garhwal, 249199, India

    Tushar Kandari, Preeti Pant, Poonam Semwal, Abhay Anand Bourai & Rakesh Chand Ramola

  2. Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, 247667, India

    Mukesh Prasad

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  1. Tushar Kandari
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  2. Mukesh Prasad
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  3. Preeti Pant
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  4. Poonam Semwal
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  5. Abhay Anand Bourai
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  6. Rakesh Chand Ramola
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Correspondence to Tushar Kandari.

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Kandari, T., Prasad, M., Pant, P. et al. Study of radon flux and natural radionuclides (226Ra, 232Th and 40K) in the Main Boundary Thrust region of Garhwal Himalaya. Acta Geophys. 66, 1243–1248 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11600-018-0158-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11600-018-0158-6

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