Radon measurements in the residential colony of Nuclear Power Station at Kalpakkam using track detectors

It is an obvious fact that more than 55% of natural radiation exposure is due to isotopes of radon, a gaseous daughter product in both uranium and thorium series and is considered to be one of the causative factors for the increase in lung cancer cases. It was decided to create a baseline data of Radon levels in the dwellings situated in and around residential colony at Kalpakkam. Towards this, radon measurements were carried out in the new residential colony of Nuclear Power Station at Kalpakkam where large number of houses (independent bungalows, multi storied buildings) have been constructed. Solid State Nuclear Track Detector LR-115 films were exposed for one year covering the four seasons and processed using Spark Counter. The radon concentration level is even below the threshold action level of 200 Bq m(-3) as stipulated by ICRP (200-600 Bq m(-3)). (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.