title: Estimation of EEC, unattached fraction and equilibrium factor for the assessment of radiological dose using pin-hole cup dosimeters and deposition based progeny sensors.
abstract: High concentration of radon ((222)Rn), thoron ((220)Rn) and their decay products in environment may increase the risk of radiological exposure to the mankind. The (222)Rn, (220)Rn concentration and their separate attached and unattached progeny concentration in units of EEC have been measured in the dwellings of Muktsar and Mansa districts of Punjab (India), using Pin-hole cup dosimeters and deposition based progeny sensors (DTPS/DRPS). The indoor (222)Rn and (220)Rn concentration was found to vary from 21 Bqm(-3) to 94 Bqm(-3) and 17 Bqm(-3) to 125 Bqm(-3). The average EEC (attached + unattached) of (222)Rn and (220)Rn was 25 Bqm(-3) and 1.8 Bqm(-3). The equilibrium factor for (222)Rn and (220)Rn in studied area was 0.47 ± 0.13 and 0.05 ± 0.03. The equilibrium factor and unattached fraction of (222)Rn and (220)Rn has been calculated separately. Dose conversion factors (DCFs) of different models have been calculated from unattached fraction for the estimation of annual effective dose in the studied area. From the experimental data a correlation relationship has been observed between unattached fraction (f(p)(Rn)) and equilibrium factor (F(Rn)). The present work also aims to evaluate an accurate expression among available expression in literature for the estimation of f(p)(Rn).
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar National Institute of Technology, Jalandhar, Punjab, India.
authors.forename: Pargin
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bangotra
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar National Institute of Technology, Jalandhar, Punjab, India. Electronic address: mehrar@nitj.ac.in.
authors.forename: Rohit
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mehra
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar National Institute of Technology, Jalandhar, Punjab, India.
authors.forename: Kirandeep
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kaur
authors.affiliation: Radiological Physics & Advisory Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, 400085, India.
authors.forename: Sandeep
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kanse
authors.affiliation: Radiological Physics & Advisory Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, 400085, India.
authors.forename: Rosaline
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mishra
authors.affiliation: Radiological Physics & Advisory Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, 400085, India.
authors.forename: B K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Sahoo
mesh_terms: D000396:Air Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis*; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis*; D007194:India; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011834:Radiation Monitoring / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011886:Radon / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000396:Air Pollutants, Radioactive; D011886:Radon
keywords: Annual effective dose; DCF; DTPS/DRPS; EEC; Pin-hole cup dosimeters; Unattached fraction