RECENT STUDIES ON RADON - A MEASURE OF LIVING STANDARD

Following the work reported elsewhere, we studied the effect of temper ature on the radon concentration levels. A radon source was made by de positing Ra-226 standard solution on a plastic disk and radon emanatio n rate was studied as a function of temperature using a Ge(Li) detecto r. In order to determine the radon and its daughters' concentration le vels with CR-39 detectors, small and equal volumes of Ra-226 solution were taken in unsealed tubes and then placed carefully in bottles and radon concentration levels were studied as a function of temperature. To obtain the desired temperature, refrigerator and temperature contro lled water bath were used. This study indicated that temperature signi ficantly affects the radon concentration levels and together with the ventilation data, one may be able to guess about the living standards of the residents from the measured values of radon and its daughter pr oducts' concentration levels.