Soil gas radon analysis in some areas of Northern Punjab, India

• Published in: Environmental monitoring and assessment 2011-03, Vol.174 (1-4), p.209-217
• Main Authors: Singh, Bhupinder, Singh, Surinder, Bajwa, Bikramjit Singh, Singh, Joga, Kumar, Arvind
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Air. Soil. Water. Waste. Feeding; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Biological and medical sciences; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecology; Ecotoxicology; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Environment; Environment. Living conditions; Environmental Management; Environmental monitoring; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Health risk assessment; Health risks; Humidity; India; Medical sciences; Monitoring/Environmental Analysis; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Radiation; Radon; Radon - analysis; Rivers; Soil - chemistry; Soil contaminants; Soil gases; Soil Pollutants, Radioactive - analysis; Soil temperature; Soils; Studies
• ISSN: 0167-6369; 1573-2959
• DOI: 10.1007/s10661-010-1451-2

The radon concentration levels in soil samples from 39 locations of Northern Punjab are measured using AlphaGUARD (PQ 2000 PRO Model) of Genitron instruments, Germany. The radon concentration in soil varies from 0.3 to 35.8 kBq/l. The minimum value of radon is observed in Talwandi Choudhrian and is maximum for Nushera Dhala. The soil gas radon is correlated with soil temperature, pressure, and humidity to observe the effect of these parameters on radon release. The soil gas radon values in the study area are compared with that obtained in groundwater. The results are also compared with the available radon data for other parts of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh.