Radon concentration measurements from some soil samples using plastic α-track detectors

Radon and its decay products are the most important sources of natural radiation for the human exposure. Radon is an element of nature. It acts like a gas indoors and in the ground. Isotope ²²²Rn, a descendant of ²³⁸U formed from the radioactive decay of ²²⁶Ra is a colourless, odourless, electrically uncharged noble but hazardous gas which is radioactive, emits alpha radiation and decays with a half-life of 3.824 days. The short-lived decay products of radon are responsible for most of the hazards by inhalation. Aim of the present work is the determination of radon concentrations and exhalation rate in the soil samples collected from North Eastern part of Haryana state of India using Canister Technique. The places are in the vicinity of Shivalik range of Himalayas. Solid State Nuclear track detectors were applied for the measurement of radon exhalation rates