Radon emanation factor for soil and external exposure of the public around an atomic power plant narora (U.P.) India

In the present study, the specific activities of ²³⁸U, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K of 54 soil samples collected from 18 village surroundings of the Narora Atomic Power Plant, Narora are measured by utilizing a high Purity Germanium (HPGe) detector. The mean values of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K 67.21 ± 11.88 Bqkg⁻¹, 77.06 ± 9.94 Bqkg⁻¹, and 843.72 ± 156.34 Bqkg⁻¹ respectively. The absorbed gamma dose rate with standard deviation for outdoor and indoor environment is found 142.56 ± 20.07 nGyh⁻¹ and 214.09 ± 29.01 nGyh⁻¹. The specific activities of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K in the soil samples are higher than the prescribed limit set by UNSCEAR. The radon mass exhalation rate also has been measured by SRM (Smart Radon Monitor) and found in the range of 28.90 to 81.90 in the unit of mBqkg⁻¹ h⁻¹ with the mean value of 58.78 ± 14.59 mBqkg⁻¹ h⁻¹. The radon emanation factor has fallen in the range of 0.07 to 0.18 with mean value as 0.12 ± 0.04.