Assessment of radon, thoron, and their progeny concentrations in the dwellings of Shivalik hills of Jammu and Kashmir, India.

The present work determines the contents of active and passive indoor ²²²Rn, ²²⁰Rn, and their daughter in the 32 houses of the Reasi district of J&K, India. The passive ²²²Rn and ²²⁰Rn concentration was measured by dosimeters, whereas the active content was measured by active radon monitor. Progeny sensors and integrated samplers were operated for the evaluation of passive and active daughter contents of ²²²Rn and ²²⁰Rn. The measured averaged values of indoor ²²⁰Rn and ²²²Rn were 73 ± 40 and 22 ± 8 Bqm⁻³, respectively. The radon and thoron equilibrium factor has varied from 0.3 to 1.7 and from 0.006 to 0.6. The fine fraction of the above-mentioned gases was also calculated. The results of Mann–Whitney test statistically demonstrated significant differences between the content of indoor ²²²Rn, ²²⁰Rn, and their daughter for different seasons. The values of ²²²Rn, ²²⁰Rn, and their daughter content were appeared to be elevated in set of mud houses among all sets of houses. The values of all daughter concentration and indoor ²²²Rn were appeared to lie within the limit proposed by various agencies. The total doses were detected less than range commended by ICRP that suggested the district is safe as a health hazard point of view. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]