Assessment of exhalation rates of radon and thoron in soil from the Jaunsar-Bawar region of the Indian Himalayas

AbstractThis research investigates exhalation rates of radon (222Rn) and thoron (220Rn) from soil samples in the Jaunsar-Bawar region of the Indian Himalayas. Before sampling, gamma radiation rates were evaluated, ranging from 0.08 to 0.33  µSv/h. The observed222Rn mass exhalation rates range between 3.56 and 82.08  mBq/kg/h, with an average of 25.67 mBq/kg/h. Additionally, the surface exhalation rate of220Rn varies from 1.28 to 22.69  Bq/m2/s, averaging 7.90  Bq/m2/s. Projected220Rn mass emission rates span 154 –2356 mBq/kg/s, with a mean of 939 mBq/kg/s. The dataset analysis employs best-fit statistics, revealing the Weibull distribution as the optimal model for gamma dose rate and220Rn mass emanation rates. Lognormal distribution suits222Rn mass exhalation rates, and the Gamma distribution excels for220Rn surface exhalation rates, aligning with log-likelihood estimator indications.
Source: Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - Category: Nuclear Medicine Source Type: research