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Measurement of Indoor Radon Concentration in the Hunza Valley of Karakoram Ranges Northern Pakistan

Iranian Journal of Science and Technology, Transactions A: Science volume 44, pages 1153–1159 (2020)Cite this article

Abstract

Among the lofty mountains of Karakoram ranges in Northern Pakistan, lies the Hunza Valley, home of a community of disease and cancer free people said to survive longer with life expectancy of around 100 years, whereas the average life expectancy in Pakistan is 67 years. Indoor radon measurements were carried out in the five villages of Hunza-Valley. The average Radon concentration levels were found to be 52.97 ± 25.25, 43.49 ± 16.04, 34.15 ± 17.93, 30.38 ± 10.82 and 30.80 ± 19.48 Bqm−3 respectively in Hassianabad, Altit, Murtazabad, Karimabad and Aliabad. The annual effective dose was calculated as 0.68 ± 0.32, 0.5 ± 0.20, 0.44 ± 0.23, 0.4 ± 0.14 and 0.25 ± 0.06 mSvy−1 in the above mentioned five villages. The radon concentration levels, are much below the action level recommended by the ICRP (300 Bqm−3), USEPA (150 Bqm−3), and WHO (300 Bqm−3). Radiation hormesis that the low doses of ionizing radiation are beneficial, stimulating the activation of repair mechanisms that protect against diseases, is the possible reason for their long life and absence of diseases and cancer from the region.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, COMSATS University Islamabad, Islamabad, 45550, Pakistan

    Hannan Younis & Aziz Ahmed Qureshi

  2. Department of Physics, International Islamic University Islamabad, Islamabad, Pakistan

    Zafar Wazir

  3. Department of Nuclear Engineering, King Abdulaziz University (KAU), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

    Khurram Mehboob

  4. Department of Physics, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, 23200, Pakistan

    Muhammad Ajaz

Authors
  1. Hannan Younis
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  2. Aziz Ahmed Qureshi
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  3. Zafar Wazir
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  4. Khurram Mehboob
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  5. Muhammad Ajaz
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Correspondence to Hannan Younis.

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Younis, H., Qureshi, A.A., Wazir, Z. et al. Measurement of Indoor Radon Concentration in the Hunza Valley of Karakoram Ranges Northern Pakistan. Iran J Sci Technol Trans Sci 44, 1153–1159 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40995-020-00904-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40995-020-00904-5

Keywords

  • CR-39
  • Indoor radon concentration
  • Auto scan optical microscope
  • Annual effective dose
  • Radiation hormesis