Indoor gamma radiation and radon concentrations in a Norwegian carbonatite area.
Results of indoor gamma radiation and radon measurements in 95 wooden dwellings located in a Norwegian thorium-rich carbonatite area using thermoluminescent dosemeters and CR-39 alpha track detectors, respectively, are reported together with a thorough analysis of the indoor data with regard to geological factors. Slightly enhanced radium levels and thorium concentrations of several thousands Bq kg(-1) in the carbonatites were found to cause elevated indoor radon-222 levels and the highest indoor gamma dose rates ever reported from wooden houses in Norway. An arithmetic mean indoor gamma dose rate of 200 nGy h(-1) and a maximum of 620 nGy h(-1) were obtained for the group of dwellings located directly on the most thorium-rich bedrock.
Department of Earth Science, University of Bergen, Allegata 41, N-5007 Bergen, Norway. aud.sundal@geo.uib.no
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D000396:Air Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis*; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis*; D005720:Gamma Rays; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry; D009664:Norway; D011834:Radiation Monitoring; D011883:Radium / Q000032:analysis; D011886:Radon / Q000032:analysis*; D013819:Thermoluminescent Dosimetry; D013910:Thorium / Q000032:analysis
D000396:Air Pollutants, Radioactive; D013910:Thorium; D011886:Radon; D011883:Radium