ASSESSMENT OF HEALTH RISK DUE TO EXPOSURE OF RADON AND ITS DAUGHTER PRODUCTS IN THE LOWER ATMOSPHERE

摘要

Radon concentrations were measured in the lower atmosphere in Garhwal Himalaya, India by using LR-115 type II, plastic track detector, The annual geometrical mean values of radon were found to be 104Bq/m(3) and 123Bq/m(3) inside the cemented and mud houses, respectively. The mean value of inhalation dose rate due to indoor radon was found to vary from 4.2 mSv/y to 5.2 mSv/y, for cemented and mud houses respectively, The radon values were observed higher in mud houses which were constructed with the soil and local stone obtained from the area, The observed values were higher than. the international recommended values, Based on the available data, the annual effective dose and the risk factors due to environmental exposure of radon and its daughter products have been calculated by using different dosimetric models, The estimated risk of lifetime lung cancer due to environmental radon exposure for a total population of study area, starting at age 1 was calculated as 0.0068 or 0.68%, The mean relative loss of life expectance was estimated as 0.26% for chronic exposure at the measured radon level. [References: 11]