Indoor (222)Rn and (220)Rn concentrations and doses in Bangalore, India.
L A Sathish1, K Nagaraja, T V Ramachandran
1Post Graduate Department of Physics, Government Science College, Nrupathunga Road, Bangalore 560 001, India. lasgayit@yahoo.com
Radiation Protection Dosimetry
|March 1, 2012
Summary
Radon (radon-222 and radon-220) levels in Bangalore homes were measured. While radon-222 is within safe global limits, radon-220 concentrations are elevated, posing a potential, though not significant, radiological risk.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Radiological Health
- Nuclear Physics
Background:
- Indoor radon exposure is a significant contributor to public radiation dose.
- Radon-222 and radon-220 are naturally occurring radioactive gases.
- Understanding indoor radon levels is crucial for assessing potential health risks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To measure indoor radon-222 and radon-220 concentrations in various housing types in Bangalore, India.
- To assess the associated radiation dose rates for the local population.
- To compare measured levels with global averages and established limits.
Main Methods:
- Utilized passive detector technique with time-integrated solid-state nuclear track detectors (SSNTDs).
- Monitored 200 dwellings across 10 locations in and around Bangalore Metropolitan area.
- Calculated geometric mean concentrations and dose rates.
Main Results:
- Geometric mean concentrations: Radon-222 at 32.2±1.6 Bq m⁻³, Radon-220 at 21.4±1.0 Bq m⁻³.
- Population dose rates ranged from 0.2 to 3.5 mSv y⁻¹, with a geometric mean of 1.06 mSv y⁻¹.
- Radon-222 levels are within global averages, but Radon-220 levels exceed the global average of 10 Bq m⁻³.
Conclusions:
- Indoor radon levels in Bangalore do not present a significant radiological risk to inhabitants.
- Radon-222 concentrations are comparable to global averages.
- Elevated radon-220 levels warrant further investigation and potential mitigation strategies.
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