Radon and its progeny measurements in dwellings of Farrukhabad city of Uttar Pradesh in Northern India

Abstract

Radon and its progeny inside different dwellings of Farrukhabad city of Uttar Pradesh in northern India have been measured in order to calculate the Potential Alpha Energy Concentration (PAEC) and effective dose to the population of study area. The values of PAEC have been found to vary from 5.04 to 9.91 mWL with an average value of 7.19 mWL. The values of radon daughters concentration vary from 46.62 to 91.67 Bq/m³ with an average value of 66.54 Bq/m³. However, the values of effective dose found to vary from 0.80 to 1.58 mSv/yr with an average value of 1.15 mSv/y. The values of radon daughters concentration in study area were found to be below the value of 200 Bq/m³ recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP). Also the values of effective dose levels were found to be lower than the average value of 2.4 mSv/y given by United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR).