Department of Physics, Mangalore University, Mangalagangothri, 574 199, India.
Department of Physics, Bearys Institute of Technology, Mangalore, 574 153, India.
Environ Monit Assess. 2022 Mar 30;194(4):310. doi: 10.1007/s10661-022-09931-8.
Systematic investigations on the seasonal variation of indoor radon, thoron and their progeny levels have been carried out in Belagavi district of Karnataka, India. The radon and thoron levels were measured using LR-115 type II dosimeter in cups with single-entry pinhole. The measurements were carried out in all the four season, viz, monsoon, autumn, winter and summer, in selected houses of the region. The higher indoor radon levels were observed during autumn with an average concentration of 56.45 Bq m. The minimum in radon levels was observed in summer with an average concentration of 21.8 Bq m. The indoor thoron concentration was also maximum during autumn with an average value of 36.44 Bq m and minimum in summer with an average value of 15.9 Bq m. The radon and thoron levels were also found to depend on the nature of walls and floorings of dwellings. The lung dose rate to the population due to radon ranged from 1.195 to 9.557 mSv year, with an average of 4.572 mSv year. Risk levels were found to be significant during autumn and winter due to the inhalation of indoor radon and thoron. The study forms the first comprehensive report on the indoor radon and thoron levels and the resulting population dose in the Belagavi region. The studies reveal that the major contributor to the population is radon and its progeny. However, a sizable dose also comes from indoor thoron and its progeny. The study emphasises the need to provide better ventilation system to future dwellings to reduce the risk from indoor radon and thoron.
已在印度卡纳塔克邦的贝拉里亚进行了有关室内氡、钍及其子体水平季节性变化的系统研究。使用带有单入口针孔的 LR-115 型 II 剂量计杯测量了氡和钍水平。在该地区的选定房屋中，在四个季节（季风、秋季、冬季和夏季）进行了测量。秋季室内氡水平较高，平均浓度为 56.45 Bq m。夏季氡水平最低，平均浓度为 21.8 Bq m。秋季室内钍浓度也最高，平均值为 36.44 Bq m，夏季最低，平均值为 15.9 Bq m。还发现氡和钍水平取决于房屋墙壁和地板的性质。由于氡，人口的肺部剂量率为 1.195 至 9.557 mSv 年，平均值为 4.572 mSv 年。由于吸入室内氡和钍，秋季和冬季的风险水平被认为是显著的。该研究首次全面报告了贝拉里亚地区的室内氡和钍水平以及由此产生的人口剂量。研究表明，主要贡献者是氡及其子体。然而，室内钍及其子体也会产生相当大的剂量。该研究强调需要为未来的住宅提供更好的通风系统，以降低室内氡和钍的风险。
