A STUDY ON EXHALATION RATE OF RADON AND THORON GASES FROM KANYAKUMARI BEACH SEDIMENTS

Abstract

Radon and thoron gas exhalation rate monitoring important, because radon gas is one of the major causes for lung cancer among public. Regular indoor monitoring of radon gas should be done. Outdoor gas concentrations of radon and thoron were not that much harmful because they get diluted to low concentrations by air. In, this study the exhalation rates of the radon and thoron gases from the beach sediments of Kanyakumari District were monitored. The radon mass exhalation rate ranged from 4 to 36mBq/kg/hwith an average of 10 mBq/kg/h and the thoron surface exhalation rate ranged from 106 to 11010 Bq/m2/h with an average of 3199 Bq/m2/h. The obtained values are compared with the world average values given by UNSCEAR, 2000