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Radionuclide contents and their correlation with radon-thoron exhalation in soil samples from mineralized zone of Himachal Pradesh, India

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Abstract

The radionuclides have been evaluated by utilizing NaI(Tl) gamma spectrometric technique from soil samples, mainly used in construction purposes. Radium equivalent activity from soil samples has been found within the range of 115–196 Bq/kg. Annual effective dose for indoor and outdoor environment has been found below the safe limit of 1 mSv/y for inhabitants. Scintillation based radon and thoron monitor have been utilized for measurement of radon and thoron exhalation rates. A positive correlation is observed between 238U concentration and 222Rn mass exhalation rates and also for 232Th concentration and 220Rn surface exhalation rates.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are thankful to the Board of Research in Nuclear Sciences (BRNS), Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Government of India, for providing financial assistance (Sanction no. 2011/36/27-BRNS) and also grateful to the residents of Hamirpur for their cooperation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, 143005, India

    Parminder Singh, Prabhjot Singh & Bikramjit Singh Bajwa

  2. Radiological Physics and Advisory Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, 400085, India

    Bijay Kumar Sahoo

Authors
  1. Parminder Singh
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  2. Prabhjot Singh
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  3. Bikramjit Singh Bajwa
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  4. Bijay Kumar Sahoo
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Correspondence to Parminder Singh.

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Singh, P., Singh, P., Bajwa, B.S. et al. Radionuclide contents and their correlation with radon-thoron exhalation in soil samples from mineralized zone of Himachal Pradesh, India. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 311, 253–261 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-016-4975-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-016-4975-2

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