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Sci Vis 10 (4), 148-152
October-December, 2010
Original Research ISSN (print) 0975-6175
ISSN (online) 2229-6026

Measurement of indoor concentrations of radon and thoron in

Mizoram, India

P. C. Rohmingliana1, Lalmuanpuia Vanchhawng1, R. K. Thapa1, B. K. Sahoo2, R. Mishra2,

B. Zoliana3* and Y. S. Mayya2

1 Department of Physics, Mizoram University, Aizawl 796 009, India

2 RadiologicalPhysics and Advisory Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai 400 094, India
3 Department of Physics, Govt. Zirtiri Residential Science College, Aizawl 796 001, India

Received 22 December 2010 | Accepted 24 January 2010

A BSTRACT
Radon, thoron and their progenies as a natural radiation hazards to human health is well known.
These gases are present in the environment and their level of concentration depends upon geo-
graphical and geological conditions, meteorological factors, etc. The indoor radon/thoron concentra-
tion is also influenced by building materials, ventilating system and soil gas diffusion. Measurement
of radon/thoron concentration in Mizoram is reported in this paper covering three districts, namely
Aizawl, Kolasib and Champhai. In this study, we used solid-state nuclear track detectors to obtain
the time integrated concentration levels of indoor radon/thoron. The study was conducted by meas-
uring the cumulative exposure for a period of about 90 days each in 149 houses during rainy season
(May-August). Houses were selected on the basis of geological characteristics of the area and the
construction types in order to determine variation of concentrations of radon and thoron due to
these factors. Among the three districts, Champhai District had the highest radon/thoron concentra-
tions, while Kolasib District had the maximum thoron concentration. Among the different types of
houses, concrete building had the average maximum concentration of radon followed by Assam type
building with G.I. Sheet walls while the contribution due to asbestos walls of Assam type building
was found to be lowest.

Key words:
words Construction types of buildings; Mizoram; radon; solid state nuclear track
detectors; thoron; twin cup dosimeter.

I NTRODUCTION population. The major contribution of dose

from natural radiation in normal background
Natural radiation is the largest contributor region arises due to inhalation of radon and
to the collective radiation dose to the world its progeny and to certain extends due to
thoron and its progeny.1 Radon is naturally
Corresponding author: B. Zoliana
occurring radioactive inert gas, with a half life
Phone. +91 9436140347
E-mail: [email protected] of 3.8 days produced from the decay series of

148 Science Vision © 2010 MIPOGRASS. All rights reserved.

 Rohmingliana et al.

238
U. The inhalation of radon/thoron daugh- of the wall.
ters can be sufficiently high as to cause an
increase in lung cancer occurrence.2 M ATERIALS AND M ETHODS
Radon/thoron present in the atmosphere is
a serious threat to health hazards due to quick For indoor radon/thoron measurement,
circulation to surrounding atmosphere. It be- solid state nuclear track detector (SSNTD)
comes environmental hazards particularly based dosimeters4 developed by Bhabha
when it remains in enclosed places such as Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai,
houses, caves and mines. The outdoor con- were used for the survey. The dosimeter sys-
centration level depends on geological and tem is a cylindrical plastic chamber divided
geophysical conditions, atmospheric influ- into two equal compartments. Cellulose ni-
ences such as barometric pressure and rain- trate film (LR-115, Type II) are used as detec-
fall. The indoor concentration depends upon tors. One end of the compartment called filter
building materials and ventilation system, cup allows the entry of both radon and thoron
while entry into indoor environment from inside by covering the cup with a glass fiber
outside depends on certain factors, viz soil gas filter and hence tracks formed on the film due
infiltration, openings like doors, windows, to both radon and thoron gases. On the other
ventilation, cracks in solid floor and walls, side of the compartment only radon gas was
etc. On the basis of its geological and seismic allowed to enter which has a modification
characteristics north-eastern region of India3 from previous measurement 5 by using a cap
is expected to have higher concentrations of with a pin hole in it. This pin hole is designed
radon. in size and thickness of cap so as to block
In this report, the measurements for indoor thoron from entry inside by considering the
radon/thoron concentrations in Mizoram diffusion length and half life of thoron.
were made in different geographical locations: The dosimeter is hanged over on the ceil-
Aizawl, Champhai and Kolasib districts. Ai- ing of the selected houses at a height of mini-
zawl city in Aizawl district contains distinct mum 1.5 m from floor and at least 10 cm
geological characteristics like fault regions away from any surface for a period of about
and fossil area. In the remaining districts the 90 days. Bedroom ceiling is preferred as this
geological characteristics remained unrepre- is a room where one has maximum occu-
sented and may be treated as unrepresented pancy. After the period of exposure is over
location. The types of houses selected accord- the detector is retrieved and chemically
ing to the building material are reinforced ce- etched using 2.5 N NaOH solution at con-
ment concrete (R.C.C.) and Assam type. stant temperature of 60ºC for 90 minutes. The
In Assam type construction the roofs con- etched SSNTD films are then counted by us-
sists of G.I. sheets and walls are mostly made ing a spark counter.6 The limit of detection of
up of asbestos (tile), wooden or bamboo; and radon gas depends on the exposure time and
floors are made of concrete, wooden planks or radon concentration, the number of back-
earth. It is interesting to note that in ground tracks in unexposed films.7
Mizoram, being a hilly terrain landscape,
some RCC buildings are constructed on a R ESULTS
steep slope in such a way that the fifth floor
may have a wall adjacent to the soil on its The study was conducted by measuring the
sides and hence radon/thoron emanation cumulative exposure for a minimum period of
through these walls is supposed to be en- about 90 days in each house during rainy sea-
hanced concentration of the gases in addition son (May-August) in 2008 covering 149
to the contribution due to building materials houses. The radon/thoron concentration in

Science Vision © 2010 MIPOGRASS. All rights reserved. 149

 Measurement of indoor concentrations of radon and thoron in Mizoram, India

Figure 1. Radon and thoron concentrations with geographical location.

Figure 2. Radon and thoron concentrations with geological location.

Figure 3. Correlation of radon/thoron concentration with construction types.

150 Science Vision © 2010 MIPOGRASS. All rights reserved.

 Rohmingliana et al.

this particular season is indicated in this re- 12.82 Bq/m3 GM. In fault region, the radon
port and seasonal variation of these gases in varied from 23.45 to 91.13 Bq/m3 with 48.48
the same area was reported elsewhere.8 The Bq/m 3 GM, and that of thoron varied from
data obtained were correlated with the geo- 0.83 to 69.94 Bq/m3 with 11.37 Bq/m3 GM.
graphical location, geological location and In normal area, the concentration of radon
construction type of buildings. A previously varied from 17.7 to 101.56 Bq/m3 with 46.67
determined calibration factors (concentration Bq/m 3 GM, and concentration of thoron var-
conversion factors) by the manufacturer were ied from 0.47 to 52.16 Bq/m3 with 13.85 Bq/
used for radon/thoron dosimeter cups. For m 3 GM. It is clear that fault regions showed
rodon+thoron in pinhole compartment was highest radon levels and unrepresented area
0.023 track/cm 2/day/(Bq/m3) and that of had highest thoron concentrations.
thoron in filter compartment was 0.016 track/
cm2/day/(Bq/m3). Radon/thoron distribution with construction
types of buildings
Radon/thoron concentrations with geographi-
cal locations A chart was plotted using the average con-
centrations of radon/thoron versus the con-
Figure 1 shows the concentrations of radon struction type of buildings in Figure 3. It can
and thoron versus geographical distribution. be observed that the RCC type of building
In Aizawl district we obtained radon concen- had the highest concentrations of radon, vary-
tration from 17.7 to 101.56 Bq/m3 with GM ing from 25.33 to 101.56 Bq/m3 with 50.68
of 46.30 Bq/m3, and thoron varying from 0.47 Bq/m 3 GM and that of thoron varied from
to 69.94 Bq/m3 with 12.90 Bq/m3 GM. In 0.47 to 97.8 Bq/m3 with 16.46 Bq/m3 GM.
Champhai district, radon varied from 23.76 to In Assam type building with bamboo
111.37 Bq/m 3 with 51.33 Bq/m3 GM, and of walls, the concentration of radon varied from
thoron varied from 1.31 to 93.38 Bq/m3 with 23.76 to 76.5 Bq/m3 with GM of 45.2 Bq/m 3,
12.56 Bq/m3 GM. In Kolasib district the con- and that of thoron varied from 0.83 to 106.4
centration of radon varied from 26.86 to Bq/m3 with 11.85 Bq/m3 GM with asbestos
85.06 Bq/m3 with 45.41 Bq/m3 GM, and walls, the concentration of radon varied from
thoron varied from 1.54 to 106.48 Bq/m3 with 17.7 to 111.37 Bq/m3 with 43.72 Bq/m3 GM,
16.67 Bq/m 3 GM. Comparing these three dis- and that of thoron varied from 1.31 to 93.38
tricts Champhai district had the highest con- Bq/m 3 with 13.55 Bq/m3 GM. Again with
centration of radon while Kolasib district had G.I. sheet walls, the concentration of radon
the highest concentration of thoron. varied from 32.48 to 85.06 Bq/m3 with 49.51
Bq/m 3 GM, and that of thoron varied from
Radon/thoron concentration vs geological 1.15 to 63.16 Bq/m3 with 9.59 Bq/m 3 GM.
characteristics Here one can see that in Assam type build-
ings, the G.I. sheet walls had the highest ra-
In Figure 2, we show average radon and don concentration.
thoron concentrations versus the geological
characteristics (fossil areas, fault areas and D ISCUSSION AND C ONCLUSION
unrepresented areas), respectively, in Aizawl
districts only. Here, concentration of radon in The results show that overall concentration
fossil region varied from 18.59 to 61.29 Bq/ of radon and thoron in the study area are low
m3 with a GM of 35.07 Bq/m3, and that of compared to that of the level found in high
thoron varied from 4.32 to 27.04 Bq/m3 with background radiation areas like the western
coast of Kerala.9 It has been found that the

Science Vision © 2010 MIPOGRASS. All rights reserved. 151

 Measurement of indoor concentrations of radon and thoron in Mizoram, India

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A CKNOWLEDGEMENT the Effect of Atomic Radiation, Sources and Biological
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152 Science Vision © 2010 MIPOGRASS. All rights reserved.