Measurement of Radon Exhalation Rate of Soil Samples From Bharmour - Tisa Province of Himachal Pradesh, India Using Can Technique Method

The radon exhalation rate and effective radium contents were measured in the soil samples of 44 villages of Bharmour to Tisa province of Himachal Pradesh, India using the closed can technique. The average values of areal and mass radon exhalation rates were found 1.258 Bqm(-2)h(-1) and 0.0484 Bqkg(-1)h(-1) respectively. The effective radium content was found to be ranged from 7.01 Bq/kg to 55.26 Bq/kg with an average value of 23.83 Bq/kg. A weak correlation of 0.125 for a polynomial fit of order 3 has been observed between porosity and radon exhalation rates in term of area and mass. Another attempt has been made to correlate the organic carbon content in soil and radon exhalation rate and a negative correlation indicating the reduction in radon exhalation rate with increased carbon content. The pH of soil samples was varying from 4.7 to 8.8 and average 6.5. The average value of carbon content found 1.03%, which was high then recommended level 0.75%.