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Measurement of 222Rn Concentration and Exhalation Rate from Phosphate Rocks Using SSBD Detector in Saudi Arabia

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Abstract

The radon concentrations and exhalation rates of phosphate rocks samples were measured using a silicon surface barrier detector. In this study, samples were collected from different locations of phosphate mine in Northern Saudi Arabia. The radon concentrations varied from 17 ± 0.5 to 77 ± 1.3 Bq m−3, and the radon exhalation rates from these samples ranged from 0.1255 (0.024) to 0.5791 Bq m−2 h−1 (0.111 Bq kg−1 h−1. The annual effective doses varied from 0.429 to 1.943 mSv y−1. The data were compared with the global values of radon concentration.

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Correspondence to Fatimh Alshahri.

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Alshahri, F. Measurement of 222Rn Concentration and Exhalation Rate from Phosphate Rocks Using SSBD Detector in Saudi Arabia. Arab J Sci Eng 39, 5765–5770 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-014-1108-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-014-1108-5

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