ATMOSPHERIC RADON LEVELS AND ITS EMANATION RATE IN THE ENVIRONMENT OFKAIGA

A systematic study of atmospheric radon levels and of radon emanation rates was conducted in the environment of Kaiga on the south-west coas t of India where the installation of nuclear power reactors is in prog ress. Rn-222 emanation rates were estimated employing the accumulating chamber method and were found to vary from 5.6 to 62.9 mBq m(-2) s(-1 ) with a geometric mean of 30.0 mBq m(-2) s(-1). The atmospheric conce ntrations were estimated using CR-39 solid state nuclear track detecto rs (SSNTDs) and found to vary from 4.7 to 27.9 Bq m(-3) with a geometr ic mean of 13.4 Bq m(-3). The results show a strong correlation betwee n emanation rate and atmospheric concentration while showing a poor co rrelation between Ra-226 concentration in surface soil and atmospheric concentration of Rn-222. The results are also compared and discussed in the light of relevant literature reported for other environments.