A study of anthropogenic effect on radon emission rate

Nafis Islam  Dalee; Sopan Das; Minajur Rahman; Shafaly  Khatun; Nighat Sultana  Resma; Sree Rajib  Talukdar; A.K.M Rezaur  Rahman; Shyamal Ranjan  Chakraborty

doi:10.35815/radon.v6.11137

Nafis Islam Dalee Department of Physics, University of Chittagong, Chattogram, Bangladesh
Sopan Das Atomic Energy Centre, Chattogram, Chattogram, Bangladesh
Minajur Rahman Department of Physics, University of Chittagong, Chattogram, Bangladesh
Shafaly Khatun Radioactivity Testing and Monitoring Laboratory (RTML) Mongla, Bagerhat, Bangladesh
Nighat Sultana Resma Atomic Energy Centre, Chattogram, Chattogram, Bangladesh
Sree Rajib Talukdar Atomic Energy Centre, Chattogram, Chattogram, Bangladesh
A.K.M Rezaur Rahman Department of Physics, University of Chittagong, Chattogram, Bangladesh
Shyamal Ranjan Chakraborty Department of Physics, University of Chittagong, Chattogram, Bangladesh

DOI: https://doi.org/10.35815/radon.v6.11137

Keywords: radon, natural radioactivity, radon inhalation, carcinogenic agents, radon emission, anthropogenic effect, radon anthropogenic effect

Abstract

Radon (²²²Rn) is an element of significant environmental concern due to its health risks. This study examines the impact of anthropogenic activities such as urbanization, industrial emissions, and agricultural fertilizer use on radon exhalation rates and measured ²²⁶Ra and ²²²Rn concentrations in soil samples from Chattogram, Bangladesh. A total of 60 soil samples were collected from areas categorized by different human activities. The ²²⁶Ra activity concentration in the first group (low human activity) ranged from 12 ± 2 to 35 ± 12 Bqkg^-1, in the second group (moderate activity) from 25 ± 5 to 39 ± 13 Bqkg^-1, and in the third group (high activity) from 30 ± 6 to 44 ± 10 Bqkg^-1, while ²²²Rn concentrations in the first, second, and third groups were observed to vary from 15 ± 5 to 39 ± 9 Bqm^-3, 31 ± 9 to 51 ± 13 Bqm^-3, and 36 ± 6 to 59 ± 9 Bqm^-3, respectively. In high-activity areas, most locations exceed the UNSCEAR-recommended global average of 35 Bqkg^-1 for ²²⁶Ra concentrations, indicating health risks due to radium exposure in these areas. Though ²²²Rn activity concentrations are below the recommended values suggested by ICRP, the activity concentrations have been found to increase as the locations vary from less developed to more developed areas. These findings emphasize the need for radon monitoring, mitigation measures, and public health awareness to minimize exposure risks.

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