Abstract
Radon concentration in soil-gas and in the atmospheric air has been studied around Mysore city (12°N and 76°E) using Solid State Nuclear Track Detectors. The radon in soil-gas is found to be higher at a depth of 1 m than at a depth of 0.5 m from the ground surface. The higher radon concentration in soil was observed near Chamundi Hills and Karigatta village with average values of 5.94 kBq.m−3 and 5.32 kBq.m−3 at 1 m depth from the ground surface. Seasonal variations in radon in soil gas shows that, the concentration is lower in summer with an average value of 0.60 kBq.m−3 and higher in monsoon season with an average value of 4.70 kBq.m−3. Estimation of 226Ra in soil at these locations is also made using HPGe detector. The activity of 226Ra, varies from 4.82 to 74.23 Bq.kg−1 with an average value of 32.11 Bq.kg−1. Radon concentrations in soil-gas shows good correlation with the activity of 226Ra in soil with a correlation coefficient of 0.76
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Shashikumar, T.S., Ragini, N., Chandrashekara, M.S. et al. Radon in soil and its concentration in the atmosphere around Mysore city, India. Indian J Phys 83, 1163–1169 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12648-009-0096-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12648-009-0096-x