Radon Exhalation Rates and Radium Estimation Studies in Soil Samples Collected from Various Locations in the Environment of Shahjahanpur District of Uttar Pradesh, India

The measurements of radium content and radon exhalation rates in terms of mass and area in soil samples collected from various locations in the shahjahanpur District were carried by using cylindrical can technique (CCT) based on LR-115 type II plastic track detector. From the result it was found that the effective radium content in the study area varies from 0.485Bq/kg to 2.503Bq/kg with an average value of 1.362Bq/kg. The radon exhalation rate in terms of mass varies from 0.389 x101 BqKg1d1 to 2.009 x107 BqKg1d1 with an average of 1.093 BqKg1d1where as radon exhalation rate in terms of area varies from 1.314 x106 Bqm2d1 to 6.791 x106 Bqm2d1 with an average value of 3.696 x106 Bqm2d1. Measured values of radium content in soil samples collected from different locations in the study area were found to be less than the permissible value of 370 Bqkg1 and also lower than the average global value of 35 Bqkg1 as recommended by Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Thus the result shows that the study area is safe from health hazard effects point of view.