Variation of radon concentrations in soil and groundwater and its correlation with radon exhalation rate from soil in Budhakedar, Garhwal Himalaya

Abstract

: Radon was measured in soil-gas and groundwater in the Budhakedar area of Tehri Garhwal, India in summer and winter to obtain the seasonal variation and its correlation with radon exhalation rate. The environmental surface gamma dose rate was also measured in the same area. The radon exhalation rate in the soil sample collected from different geological unit of Budhakedar area was measured using plastic track detector (LR-115 type II) technique. The variation in the radon concentration in soil-gas was found to vary from 1098 to 31,776 Bq.m -3 with an average of 7456 Bq.m -3 in summer season and 3501 to 42883 Bq.m -3 with an average of 17148 Bq.m -3 in winter season. In groundwater, it was found to vary from 8 to 3047 Bq.l -1 with an average value 510 Bq.l -1 in summer and 26 to 2311 Bq.l -1 with an average value 433 Bq.L -1 in winter. Surface gamma dose rate in the study area varied from 32.4 to 83.6 mR.h -1 with an overall mean of 58.7 mR.h -1 in summer and 34.6 to 79.3 mR.h -1 with an average value 58.2 mR.h -1 in winter. Radon exhalation rate from collected soil samples was found to vary from 0.1 × 10 -5 to 5.7 × 10 -5 Bq.kg -1 .h -1 with an average of 1.5 × 10 -5 Bq.kg -1 .h -1 in summer season and 1.7 × 10 -5 to 9.6 × 10 -5 Bq.kg -1 .h -1 with an average of 5.5 × 10 -5 Bq.kg -1 .h -1 . A weak negative correlation was observed between radon exhalation rate from soil and radon concentration in the soil. Radon exhalation rate from the soil was also not found to be correlated with the gamma dose rate, while it shows a positive correlation with radon concentration in water in summer season. Inter-correlations among various parameters are discussed in detail.

Distribution of 222Rn in groundwater and estimation of resulting radiation dose to different age groups: A case study from Bangalore City

“…Similarly, the recorded radon concentrations were compared with the European Commission (EU 2001) recommended action level of 100 Bq/L for pubic water supplies; and it was apparent that radon concentration exceeded the action level in 20% of samples (viz., 13 groundwater samples). The mean and the range values of radon concentration recorded in the present study are on higher side compared to the result reported by Kumar et al (2017) Prasad et al (2009) as the latter reported radon concentration ranging from 8-3047 (average: 510 Bq/L) in the groundwater collected and analyzed from parts of Garhwal Himalayas, India. Figure 3 and it well fits to a typical log-normal distributions.…”