[en] Situated in a part of the eastern coast of the state of Orissa, India, newly discovered Erasama beach placer deposit is a high natural background radiation region which is due to the presence of radiogenic heavy minerals. The sand samples containing heavy minerals were collected from Erasama beach placer deposit by the grab sampling method from places at an interval of ∼1km. Radon exhalation rates were measured by 'Can' technique using LR-115 type II plastic track detector to estimate the radiation exposure in given atmosphere. Radon activity is found to vary from 1471±46 to 4686±87Bqm^-3 with an average value of 3349±68Bqm^-3 whereas the radon exhalation rate varies from 529±16 to 1685±31mBqm^-2h^-1 with an average value of 1204±25mBqm^-2h^-1. Variation of radon exhalation rate with the uranium concentration in the sand samples was studied. Overall a positive correlation has been found between U concentration and radon exhalation rate. The values obtained are on higher side and may pose a radiation risk to ambient environment, if the sand is used as construction material for mixing with cement