Measurement of Radium Concentration and Radon Exhalation Rate in Soil Samples Using SSNTDs

LR-115 (Type-II), a solid state nuclear track detector (SSNTD), has been used for the measurement of radium concentration and radon exhalation rate in soil samples collected from Barpeta town and Bhawanipur in Barpeta district, Assam. Radium concentration and radon exhalation rate from soil has been determined by using Can Technique. Uranium is a radiotoxic element found in trace quantities in almost all naturally occurring materials like soil, sand etc. Radon, an inert radioactive gas, is emitted from soil beneath the house and building materials. The values of radium concentration vary from 2.85 - 4.37 BqKg(-1) in the study area and are found to be maximum at Kahara Pathar, Bhawanipur and minimum at Metuakuchi, Barpeta town. The radon exhalation rate in terms of area varies from 62.66 - 96.22 mBqm(-2)h(-1) and is found to be maximum at Kahara Pathar, minimum at Metuakuchi. The radon exhalation rate in terms of mass varies from 1.78 -2.73 mBqKg(-1)h(-1) and is found to be maximum at Kahara Pathar, minimum at Metuakuchi. A positive correlation has been observed between radium concentration and radon exhalation rate in soil. The aim of the work is to assess the possibility of health risk due to the presence of radium in the soil of the study area.