Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Assessment of Soil Gas Radon and Exhalation Studies in Lower Himalayan Region of Jammu and Kashmir State, India

  • Published:
Pure and Applied Geophysics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In the present work, the soil gas radon survey has been carried out for locating the trend of soil radon in the foothills of Siwalik which is covered with lithology of Pliocene unconsolidated deposits. Soil gas radon concentration and mass exhalation rate have been studied in natural soil samples of Udhampur district, Jammu and Kashmir, India using active measurement technique RAD7 and smart RnDuo monitor. The sampling measurements were chosen according to suitability of the area. Few of the locations are near the Main Boundary Thrust (MBT) and tectonically active lineaments, having reasonably high concentration of soil gas radon. The soil gas radon concentration in 15 locations of studied area has been measured at different depths (30, 45 and 60 cm) and the overall soil gas concentration was found to vary from 0.14 to 61.01 kBq m−3, respectively. This large variation in radon content might be due to radioactive nature of the bedrocks present in different geological structure. Soil pore diffusion model have been used to observe the relation between experimentally and theoretically determined soil gas radon concentrations in the studied region.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ali, N., Khan, E. U., Akhter, P., Khan, F., & Waheed, A. (2010). Estimation of mean annual effective dose through radon concentration in the water and indoor air of Islamabad and Murree. Radiation Protection Dosimetry, 141, 183–191.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bajwa, B. S., Singh, H., Singh, J., Singh, S., & Sonkawade, R. G. (2010). Environmental radioactivity: a case study in HHP granitic region of Tusham ring complex Haryana, India. Geophysics Research Abstract, 12, 1888. (EGU2010).

    Google Scholar 

  • Banwell, G. M., & Parizek, R. R. (1988). Helium-4 and radon-222 concentrations in groundwater and soil gas as indicator of fault zones of fracture concentration in unexposed rock. Geophysical Research Letter, 93, 355–366.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barnet, I., Pacherova, P., & Neznal, M. (2008). Radon in geological environment—Czech experience Czech Geological Survey Special Papers, No. 19 (pp. 19–28). Prague: Czech Geological Survey.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baubron, J. C., Rigo, A., & Toutain, J. (2002). Soil–gas profile as a tool to characterize active tectonic areas: The Jault Pass example (Pyrenees, France). Earth Planet Science Letter, 196, 69–81.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Botond, P., Alexandru, S., Tamás, N., Nicolae, F., Kinga, S., & Constantin, C. (2014). Soil radon and thoron activity concentrations and Co2 flux measurements in the neogene volcanic region of the eastern carpathians (Romania). Carpathian Journal of Earth and Environmental Sciences, 9, 261–268.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bourai, A. A., Aswal, S., Dangwal, A., Rawat, M., Prasad, M., Prasad, N., et al. (2013). Measurement of radon flux and soil-gas radon concentration along the main central thrust, Garhwal Himalaya, using SRM and RAD7 detectors. Acta Geophysica, 61, 950–957.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cinelli, G., Tositti, L., Capaccioni, B., Brattich, E., & Mostacci, D. (2014). Soil gas radon assessment and development of a radon risk map in Bolsena, Central Italy. Environmental Geochemistry and Health. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-014-9649-9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ciotoli, G., Guerra, M., Lombard, S., & Vittori, E. (1998). Soil gas survey for tracing seismogenic faults: a case study in the Fucino basin, Central Italy. Geophysical Research, 103, 23781–23794.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Devoto, R. H. (1984). Uranium exploration. In B. Devivo, F. Ippolito, G. Capaldi, & P. R. Simpson (Eds.), Uranium geo-chemistry, mineralogy, geology, exploration and re-sources (pp. 101–108). London: The Institution of Mining and Metallurgy.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Etiope, G., & Lombardi, S. (1995). Evidence for radon transport by carrier gas through faulted clays in Italy. Radioanalytical Nuclear Chemistry, 193, 291–300.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Etiope, G., & Martinelli, G. (2002). Migration of carrier and trace gases in the geosphere: an overview. Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors, 129, 185–204.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fleischer, R. L., Price, P. B., & Walker, R. M. (1975). Nuclear tracks in solids: principles and applications. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fu, C. C., Yang, T. F., Walia, V., & Cheng, C. H. (2005). Reconnaissance of soil gas composition over the buried fault and fracture zone in southern Taiwan. Geochemical Journal, 39, 427–439.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gaware, J. J., Sahoo, B. K., Sapra, B. K., & Mayya, Y. S. (2011). Indigenous development and networking of online radon monitors in the underground uranium mine. Radiation Protection and Environment, 34, 37–40.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gupta, S. S., & Verma, B. C. (1988). Stratigraphy and vertebrate fauna of the Siwalik, Jammu District Group, Mansar-Uttarbani section, Jammu and Kashmir. Journal of Palaeontological Society of India, 33, 117–124.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hassan, N. M., Hosoda, M., Ishikawa, T., Sorimachi, A., Sahoo, S. K., Tokonami, S., et al. (2009). Radon migration process and its influence factors; review. Health Physics, 44, 218–231.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kaur, M., Kumar, A., Mehra, R., & Mishra, R. (2018). Study of radon/thoron exhalation rate, soil-gas radon concentration, and assessment of indoor radon/thoron concentration in Siwalik Himalayas of Jammu and Kashmir. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment. https://doi.org/10.1080/10807039.2018.1443793.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • King, C. Y., King, B. S., Evans, W. C., & Zhang, W. (1996). Spatial radon anomalies on active faults in California. Applied Geochemistry, 11, 497–510.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krishnan, P. V., & Prasad, R. (1970). Tectonic framework of tertiary belt of the sub Himalayas of Jammu. Publications of the Centre of Advanced Study in Geology, 7, 1–9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kumar, A., Arora, V., Walia, V., Bajwa, B. S., Singh, S., & Yang, T. F. (2014). Study of soil gas radon variations in the tectonically active Dharamshala and Chamba regions, Himachal Pradesh, India. Environmental Earth Sciences, 72, 2837–2847.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar, G., Kumar, A., Walia, V., Kumar, J., Gupta, V., Yang, T. F., et al. (2013). Soil gas radon–thoron monitoring in area of north-west Himalayas, India using solid state nuclear track detectors. Earth System Science, 122, 1295–1301.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar, A., Sharma, S., Mehra, R., Kanwar, P., Mishra, R., & Kaur, I. (2017). Assessment of radon concentration and heavy metal contamination in groundwater of Udhampur district, Jammu and Kashmir, India. Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 40, 815–831.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar, S., Singh, S., Bajwa, B. S., & Sabharwal, A. D. (2011). In situ measurements of radon levels in water and soil and exhalation rate in areas of Malwa belt of Punjab (India). Isotopes in Environment Health Studies, 47, 446–455.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar, A., Vij, R., Sharma, S., Sarin, A., & Narang, S. (2018). Assessment of Radionuclide concentration and exhalation studies in soil of lesser Himalayas of Jammu and Kashmir. Acta Geophysica. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11600-018-0119-0.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar, A., Walia, V., Singh, S., Bajwa, B. S., Mahajan, S., Dhar, S., et al. (2012). Earthquake precursory studies at Amritsar Punjab, India using radon measurement techniques. International Journal of Physical Sciences, 7(42), 5669–5677.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mehra, R., & Bala, P. (2013). Estimation of annual effective dose due to radon level in indoor air and soil gas in Hamirpur district of Himachal Pradesh. Journal of Geochemical Exploration, 142, 16–20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mujahid, S. A., Hussain, S., & Ramzan, M. (2010). Measurement of radon exhalation rate and soil gas radon concentration in areas of southern Punjab, Pakistan. Radiation Protection Dosimetry, 140, 300–303.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nero, A.V. (1988) Radon and its decay products in indoor air: an overview. In: W. W. Nazaroff & A. V. Nero Jr., (Eds.) Radon and its decay products in indoor air (pp. 1–53). New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pascoe, E. H. (1964). A manual of the Geology of India and Burma, vol. I–IV, 3rd edn (pp. 1757–1811). Delhi: Government of India press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prasad, Y., Prasad, G., Gusain, G. S., Choubey, V. M., & Ramola, R. C. (2008). Radon exhalation rate from soil samples of South Kumaun Lesser Himalayas, India. Radiation Measurements, 43, 369–374.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ramola, R. C., & Choubey, V. M. (2003). Measurement of radon exhalation rate from soil samples of Garhwal Himalaya, India. Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 256, 219–223.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ranga, Rao A., Agarwal, R. P., Sharma, U. N., Bhalla, M. S., & Nanda, A. C. (1988). Magnetic polarity stratigraphy and vertebrate palaeontology of the Upper Siwalik Subgroup of Jammu Hills, India. Geological Society of India, 31, 361–385.

    Google Scholar 

  • Righi, S., & Bruzzi, L. (2006). Natural radioactivity and radon exhalation in building materials used in Italian dwellings. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 88, 158–170.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sahni, M. R., Mathur, L. P. (1964). Stratigraphy of the Siwalik Group. Inter-geology, Congo 22nd session.

  • Sahoo, B. K., Nathwani, D., Eappen, K. P., Ramachandran, T. V., Gaware, J. J., & Mayya, Y. S. (2007). Estimation of radon emanation factor in Indian building materials. Radiation Measurements, 42, 1422–1425.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saini, K., & Bajwa, B. S. (2017). Mapping natural radioactivity of soil samples in different regions of Punjab, India. Applied Radiation and Isotopes. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apradiso.2017.05.013.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sharma, S., Kumar, A., & Mehra, R. (2017). Variation of ambient gamma dose rate and indoor radon/thoron concentration in different villages of Udhampur district, Jammu and Kashmir, India. Radiation Protection and Environment, 40, 133–141.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sharma, S., Kumar, A., Mehra, R., Kaur, M., & Mishra, R. (2018). Assessment of progeny concentrations of 222Rn/220Rn and their related doses using deposition based progeny sensors. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 25, 11440–11453.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh, S., Sharma, D. K., Dhar, S., & Randhawa, S. S. (2006). Geological significance of soil gas radon: A case study of Nurpur area district Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, India. Radiation Measurements, 4, 482–485.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh, J., Singh, H., Singh, S., & Bajwa, B. S. (2010). Measurement of soil gas radon and its correlation with indoor radon around some areas of Upper Siwaliks, India. Journal of Radiological Protection, 30, 63–71.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stoulos, S., Manolopoulou, M., & Papastefanou, C. (2003). Assessment of natural radiation exposure and radon exhalation from building materials in Greece. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 69, 225–240.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stranden, E. A., Kolstad, A. K., & Lind, B. (1984). Radon exhalation; moisture and temperature dependence. Health Physics, 47, 480.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tanner, A. B. (1964). Radon migration in the ground: A review. In J. A. S. Adams & W. M. Lowder (Eds.), The natural radiation environment (pp. 161–190). Chicago: Chicago University of Chicago press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tareen, A. D. K., Rafique, M., Kearfott, K. J., Basharat, M., & Shafique, B. (2016). Soil gas radon mapping of Muzaffarabad city, Pakistan. Nuclear Technology and Radiation Protection, 3, 291–298.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • UNSCEAR. (1988). Sources and effects of ionizing radiation. United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effect of Atomic Radiation Annex A., United Nations, New York.

  • UNSCEAR. (2008). Sources and biological effects of ionizing radiation. New York: United Nations.

    Google Scholar 

  • US Environmental Protection Agency. (2012). A citizens guide to radon: The guide to protecting yourself and your family from radon; EPA 402/K-12/002, www.epa.gov/radon.

  • Walia, V., Virk, H. S., & Bajwa, B. S. (2006). Radon precursory signals for some earthquakes of magnitude > 5 occurred in N-W Himalaya. Pure and Applied Geophysics, 163, 711–721.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank the Board of Research in Nuclear Science, Department of Atomic Energy (BRNS-DAE) for supporting this work financially under the major research project (sanctioned no. 2013/36/60-BRNS). The authors are also thankful to DAV College, Amritsar for their valuable cooperation during the completion of this work. We would like to thank the inhabitants of Udhampur district for their cooporation during field work.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, DAV College, Amritsar, Punjab, 143001, India

    Sumit Sharma & Ajay Kumar

  2. Department of Physics, Dr. B R Ambedkar National Institute of Technology, Jalandhar, Punjab, 144011, India

    Sumit Sharma & Rohit Mehra

  3. Radiological Physics and Advisory Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, 400082, India

    Rosaline Mishra

Authors
  1. Sumit Sharma
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ajay Kumar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Rohit Mehra
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Rosaline Mishra
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ajay Kumar.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Sharma, S., Kumar, A., Mehra, R. et al. Assessment of Soil Gas Radon and Exhalation Studies in Lower Himalayan Region of Jammu and Kashmir State, India. Pure Appl. Geophys. 175, 4411–4426 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00024-018-1944-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00024-018-1944-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation