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Determination of radon exhalation rates in soil samples using sealed can technique and CR-39 detectors

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Abstract

Background

In this study, the so-called sealed can technique dosimeters have been used to determine the radon exhalation rates in soil samples collected from different sites in Bethlehem region- Palestine.

Methods

For the measurement of radon concentration emanated from these samples, alpha-sensitive, Solid State Nuclear Track Detectors (SSNTD’s) have been used. A total of 82 soil samples were collected simultaneously.

Results

It was found that the radon concentrations in these soil samples varied from 19.1 Bqm−3 to 572.9 Bqm−3 with an average value of 145.0 Bqm−3. The radon exhalation rate in these collected samples also varied from 6.9 mBqm−2 h−1 (0.26 mBqkg−1 h−1) to 207.2 mBqm−2 h−1 (7.84 mBqkg−1 h−1) with an a total average value of 52.2 mBqm−2 h−1 (1.97 mBqkg−1 h−1).

Conclusions

All the values of radium content in all samples under test were found to be quite lower than the corresponding the global value 30 Bqkg−1. The present results show that the radon concentration and the resulting doses in all soil samples are below the allowed limit from ICRP. The radiological health implication to the population that may result from these doses is found to be low. The measurements have been taken as representing a baseline database of values of these radionuclides in the soils in the area. The results were compared with national and worldwide results.

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Acknowledgements

I gratefully acknowledge the working staff in chemistry lab at Hebron University who’s helped me in the etching and washed the detectors before it readings.

Availability of data and material

Data sharing not applicable to this article as no datasets were generated or analyzed during the current study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Science and Technology, Hebron University, PO Box 40, Hebron, Palestine

    Khalil M. Thabayneh

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  1. Khalil M. Thabayneh
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Contributions

KM Thabayneh distributed, collected and read the dosimeters, analyzed, wrote the text, reviewed and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Khalil M. Thabayneh.

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The author declares that they have no competing interests.

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Thabayneh, K.M. Determination of radon exhalation rates in soil samples using sealed can technique and CR-39 detectors. J Environ Health Sci Engineer 16, 121–128 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40201-018-0298-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40201-018-0298-2

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