Pargin Bangotra

Estimation of EEC, unattached fraction and equilibrium factor for the assessment of radiological dose using pin-hole cup dosimeters and deposition based progeny sensors

High concentration of radon ((222)Rn), thoron ((220)Rn) and their decay products in environment may increase the risk of radiological exposure to the mankind. The (222)Rn, (220)Rn concentration and their separate attached and unattached progeny concentration in units of EEC have been measured in the dwellings of Muktsar and Mansa districts of Punjab (India), using Pin-hole cup dosimeters and deposition based progeny sensors (DTPS/DRPS). The indoor (222)Rn and (220)Rn concentration was found to vary from 21 Bqm(-3) to 94 Bqm(-3) and 17 Bqm(-3) to 125 Bqm(-3). The average EEC (attached + unattached) of (222)Rn and (220)Rn was 25 Bqm(-3) and 1.8 Bqm(-3). The equilibrium factor for (222)Rn and (220)Rn in studied area was 0.47 ± 0.13 and 0.05 ± 0.03. The equilibrium factor and unattached fraction of (222)Rn and (220)Rn has been calculated separately. Dose conversion factors (DCFs) of different models have been calculated from unattached fraction for the estimation of annual effective dose in the studied area. From the experimental data a correlation relationship has been observed between unattached fraction (f(p)(Rn)) and equilibrium factor (F(Rn)). The present work also aims to evaluate an accurate expression among available expression in literature for the estimation of f(p)(Rn).

Estimation of attached and unattached progeny of 222Rn and 220Rn concentration using deposition based progeny sensors

The attached and unattached radon and thoron progeny concentrations have been calculated using deposition-based progeny sensors in Mansa, Muktsar, Bathinda and Faridkot districts of Punjab, India. The total (attached + unattached) equilibrium-equivalent (222)Rn concentration (EECRA + U) and total (attached + unattached) equilibrium-equivalent (220)Rn concentration (EECTA + U) were found to vary from 9 to 46 Bqm(-3) and 0.5 to 3.1 Bq m(-3), respectively. The concentrations of attached progeny nuclides for both (222)Rn and (220)Rn have been found to be greater than the unattached progeny nuclides in the dwellings of studied area. An attempt has also been made to assess the effective dose for (222)Rn and (220)Rn in the studied area. The radiation dose originated from (222)Rn and (220)Rn progeny is low and health risk is negligible.

222Rn and 220Rn levels of Mansa and Muktsar district of Punjab, India

In this study 222Rn (Radon) measurement were performed in water and soil gas and also both 222Rn and 220Rn concentrations were determined in air of Mansa and Muktsar district of Punjab, India. The data then used for calculation of the annual effective dose for health risk assessment of public. Totally 35 locations have been selected for the measurements. All measurements (222Rn and 220Rn) were done with RAD7 detection system. The 222Rn concentration in the water of studied area varies from 0.4 ± 0.2 Bq l-1 to 17 ± 2.8 Bq l-1. The average value of 222Rn concentration in soil, 222Rn and 220Rn concentrations in indoor air are 8 ± 3 kBq m-3, 47 ± 21 Bq m-3 and 39 ± 19 Bq m-3, respectively. The total average annual effective dose for water samples is 13 μSv a- 1 and for indoor air samples is 2.3 mSv a-1. It has been observed that 222Rn concentration in water has increased with depth of groundwater.

Study of variation of 222Rn/220Rn and their progeny concentration in dwellings using single entry pin hole-based diffusion chambers

In the present study, newly designed single entry pin hole-based diffusion chambers were used for the first time in a study region to estimate exact 222Rn and 220Rn concentration. These diffusion chambers are independent of high turbulent environmental conditions as well as with same entry rate of 222Rn and 220Rn. The device was calibrated at Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai following the standard procedures to correlate the number of tracks registered in the LR-115 detector placed in the two chambers to the 222Rn and 220Rn concentrations in the environment. The average values of 222Rn and 220Rn concentration in the indoor environments were 28.76 ± 13 Bqm−3 and 63.08 ± 17.27 Bqm−3, respectively. The values were within the recommended level of ICRP, 2010 (200–300 Bqm−3). The observed data has provided a good correlation (R2 = 0.8618) between 222Rn and 220Rn concentrations in the studied area. A linearity relationship was established between PAEC (220Rn) and {PAEC (222Rn)}0.4 with R2 = 0.9047. These data will provide a good database for 222Rn and 220Rn mapping in India.

Annual effective dose of radon due to exposure in indoor air and groundwater in Bathinda district of Punjab

In the present study, an attempt has been made to estimate the actual dose received by the residents due to their exposure to indoor radon, indoor thoron and radon concentration in water of Bathinda district of Punjab considering the different factors like dissolution of gases in blood and contribution of waterborne radon in increasing indoor radon levels following various protocols set up by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. The calculated values have shown a good positive correlation (R2 = 0.80) between indoor radon concentration and concentration of radon gas in soil in Bathinda district of Punjab, India. The correlation has been successfully established by using alpha spectrometry technique. Along with this, another linear relationship has also been established between indoor radon concentration and indoor thoron concentration keeping site conditions constant. The ratio of indoor thoron concentration to indoor radon concentration ranges from 0.68 to 1.53 with an average value of 1.10 which indicates that thoron contribution is not negligible in comparison to radon and hence its measurements cannot be neglected. The annual effective dose contributed due to inhalation of radon is 0.86 mSv and due to thoron is 0.96 mSv which is lower than the world average value of annual effective dose reported by the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation, 2000.

Structural and luminescent characterisation of uraniferous fluorapatite and haematite associated with phosphatic rocks of the Bijawar group in Sagar District, Madhya Pradesh (India)

The structural and spectroscopic characteristics of phosphatic ferruginous shale samples from the Bijawar Group rocks from Sagar District of Madhya Pradesh (India) have been probed for identification of uranium species. Fluorapatite (

AC Conductivity And Dielectric Analysis Of Pb 1-x La x [(Mg1+x /3 Nb 2-x/3 ) 0.65 Ti 0.35(1-x)/4 ]O 3 , (x = 0, 0.02, 0.05) Relaxor Ferroelecric Ceramics

\hbox {Ca}_{5}\hbox {(PO}_{4})_{3}\hbox {F}

Estimation of terrestrial radionuclide concentration and effect of soil parameters on exhalation and emanation rate of radon

Ca5(PO4)3F, FAP) and haematite (