Determination of Radon Exhalation Rates and Emanation Factor of Some Soil Samples Collected From Southern Seashore of Kerala, India

Abstract

Weathering and erosion of rocks are the main cause for the formation of mineral deposits in beach sand and soil.There are quite a few identified monazite sand-bearing placer deposits causing environmental high radiation area along its long coastline of Kerala and Tamil Nadu in India. The extent and effects of the radioactivity in the regions like Chavara and Neendakara in Kollam, Kerala is well known. Following a pilot study along the southern west coast of Kerala state, India we found certain regions with higher levels of natural radioactivity. Later made a detailed investigation of activity concentration of 226 Ra, radon exhalation rates and radon emanating factor of those locations namely Kovalam and Varkala. The results indicates that most of the soil sample shows higher specific activity of 226 Ra and there is a linear relation to 222 Rn mass exhalation rate. But radon emanation factor is not so linear to the specific activity of Radium in sample analysed.