Study of indoor radon, thoron and their progeny levels in some dwellings of District Yamuna Nagar of Haryana using SSNTD

The main source of indoor radon is 226Ra in soil, building materials, and tap water. The pathway for radon generation in rock and soil to its indoor accumulation is controlled by number of geogenic and anthropogenic factors. Generally, indoor radon concentration subject to seasonal variability. The exposure to alpha radiation emitted from radon, thoron and their progeny poses health hazards not only to workers at industrial units like thermal power plants, coal fields and oil fields but also to the dwellers in normal houses in their surroundings. Radon, thoron and their progeny are the major contributors in the radiation dose received by general population of the world. Radon being an inert gas can easily disperse into the atmosphere immediately on its release. The solid alpha active decay products of radon like 218Po and 214Po become airborne and get themselves attached to the aerosols, dust particles and water droplets suspended in the atmosphere. When inhaled during breathe, these solid decay products along with air may get deposited the tracho-bronchial and pulmonary region of lungs resulting in the continuous irradiation of the cells which may be the cause of lung cancer. Keeping this in mind the environmental monitoring of radon, thoron and their progeny in some dwellings of district Yamuna Nagar of Haryana has been carried out. The radon thoron twin dosimeter cups are being used for the study. Three pieces of LR-115 solid-state nuclear track detectors are fixed in the dosimeters and are suspended in the dwellings for three months during a season. One gives radon, thoron and progeny concentration, second gives radon and thoron concentration while the third gives only the radon concentration. Out of different types of dwellings under study the levels are found to be higher in some dwellings in village Kaleser as compare to other places. (author)