Studies on radon in soil, its concentration in the atmosphere and gamma exposure rate around Mysore city, India

• Published in: Current science (Bangalore) Vol. 94; no. 9; pp. 1180 - 1185
• Main Authors: Shashikumar, T. S., Ragini, N., Chandrashekara, M. S., Paramesh, L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Current Science Association 10.05.2008
• Subjects: Exhalation; Moisture content; Radon; RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS; Sand soils; Soil air; Soil depth; Soil pore water; Soil water; Soil water content; Urban soils; India
• ISSN: 0011-3891

Concentrations of radon in soil, rate of its exhalation from the ground surface and its concentration in the atmospheric air have been studied in and around Mysore city (12°N and 76°E). Variation of radon concentration in the soil-gas under dry and wet conditions at different depths was also studied. Radon in soil-gas was found to increase with depth and decrease with increase in moisture content of the soil. Randon in soil varies from 0.11 to 11.85 KBq m⁻³ with a median of 1.92 kBq m⁻³. The annual average values of radon and its progeny concentrations in the atmosphere vary from 15.33 to 47.81 Bq m⁻³ with a median value of 24.36 Bq m⁻³ and 0.08 to 3.54 mWL with a median value of 0.33 mWL respectively. Good correlations were observed between radon in soil, radon exhalation rate from the ground surface and radon concentration in the atmosphere in these locations. ²²⁶Ra in soil at these locations was also estimated using the HPGe detector. The activity of ²²⁶Ra varies from 11.3 to 74.2 Bq kg⁻¹. Radon concentration in soil-gas shows good correlation with the activity of ²²⁶Ra in soil. The correlation coefficient was 0.76.