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Study of primordial radionuclides and radon/thoron exhalation rates in Bageshwar region of Kumaun Himalaya, India

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Abstract

The measurements of primordial radionuclides (226Ra, 232Th and 40K) and radon exhalation rates in soil samples were performed in Bageshwar region of Kumaun Himalaya, India using gamma-ray spectrometry and scintillation detector based radon monitor, respectively. The average concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in the investigated region were found to be 36 Bq kg−1, 50 Bq kg−1 and 1595 Bq kg−1, respectively. The average values of radon and thoron mass exhalation rates were observed to be 29 mBq−1 kg−1 s−1 and 256 mBq−1 kg−1 s−1, respectively. The average value of thoron surface exhalation rates was observed to be 2281 mBq−1 m−2 s−1. The external exposure to 226Ra, 232Th and 40K is estimated in terms of different hazard assessment indices and dose quantities. The high values of 232Th content in soil samples indicate the presence of thorium mineralization in the vicinity of study area. The methodology adopted and results obtained are discussed in details.

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Acknowledgements

Authors are thankful to BRNS, Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India for providing financial support in the form of a research Project (Ref. 2013/36/61-BRNS/2470).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, Gurukula Kangri Vishwavidyalaya, Haridwar, 249404, India

    Ankur Kumar

  2. Uttarakhand Science and Education Research Center, Dehradun, 248006, India

    Prakhar Singh

  3. Department of Physics, Govt. P.G. College New Tehri, Tehri Garhwal, 249001, India

    Poonam Semwal & Kuldeep Singh

  4. Department of Physics, H.N.B. Garhwal University, Badshahi Thaul Campus, Tehri Garhwal, 249 199, India

    Mukesh Prasad & Rakesh C. Ramola

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  1. Ankur Kumar
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  2. Prakhar Singh
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  3. Poonam Semwal
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  4. Kuldeep Singh
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  5. Mukesh Prasad
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  6. Rakesh C. Ramola
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Correspondence to Rakesh C. Ramola.

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Kumar, A., Singh, P., Semwal, P. et al. Study of primordial radionuclides and radon/thoron exhalation rates in Bageshwar region of Kumaun Himalaya, India. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 328, 1361–1367 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-020-07582-y

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