Estimation of Exhalation Rates of Radon/Thoron in Soil in Hanumangarh District of Northern Rajasthan, India

Abstract

Radon and thoron are naturally occurring radioactive gases that are released by geological minerals. If the levels of these gases are high, then their inhalation is closely related to probability of a lung cancer. In present study, radon mass and thoron surface exhalation rates have been evaluated using active radiation detector (Smart RnDuo). It was found that radon mass exhalation rates have lower values while as thoron surface exhalation rates have higher values than the recommended values. The study is valuable as it estimates the radiation contamination of soil, the primary source of contribution towards radon.