Measurement of radon concentration in soil gas and radon exhalation rate from soil samples along and across the Main Central Thrust of Garhwal Himalaya, India

Abstract

The present study focuses on measuring radon concentrations in soil gas at various depths, radon exhalation rate (surface and mass) from soil samples, and gamma dose rate along and across the Main Central Thrust of Garhwal Himalaya, India. Radon concentration in soil gas, surface, and mass exhalation rates was measured using a portable SMART radon monitor (RnDuo). Furthermore, the gamma dose rate was measured using a pocket radiation monitor. The soil gas radon concentration varied from 15 ± 4 to 579 ± 82 Bq m^-3 at a depth of 25 cm, 10 ± 2 to 533 ± 75 Bq m^-3 at a depth of 30 cm, and 9 ± 1 to 680 ± 95 Bq m^-3 at a depth of 35 cm. The surface and mass exhalation rates were found 3 ± 0.7 to 98 ± 3 Bq m^-2 h^-1 (with AM ± SD = 36 ± 28 Bq m^-2 h^-1) and 1 ± 0.2 to 95 ± 2 mBq kg^-1 h^-1 (with AM ± SD = 30 ± 22 mBq kg^-1 h^-1), respectively. The gamma dose rate for the present study area varies from 0.11 ± 0.05 to 0.28 ± 0.05 µSv h^-1 with a mean value of 0.17 ± 0.05 µSv h^-1. The correlation analysis between the exhalation rates (mass and surface) and radon concentration of soil gas at various depths was carried out in the current study.

Keywords: Exhalation rate; Gamma dose rate; Main Central Thrust (MCT); Radon gas; SMART radon monitor; Soil gas radon.