Radon induced radiological impact of coal, fly ash and cement samples

Coal and its by-product fly ash are technologically important materials bei ng used for power generation and in the manufacture of bricks, sheets, ceme nt, land-filling, etc. respectively. Increased interest in measuring radon concentration in coal, fly ash and cement is due to its health hazards and environmental pollution. As the presence of radon in the environment (indoo r and outdoor), soil, ground water, oil and gas deposits contributes the la rgest fraction of the natural radiation dose to populations, tracking its c oncentration is thus of paramount importance for radiological protection. S amples of coal and fly ash were collected from different thermal power stat ions in northern India and cement samples from National Council for Cement and Building Materials, Ballabgarh (Haryana), India and were analysed for r adon concentration. For the measurement, alpha sensitive LR-115 type II pla stic track detectors were used. Based upon the available data, the annual e ffective dose and the lifetime fatality risk factors have been calculated, The radon concentration from coal samples varied from 433 +/- 28 Bq m(-3) t o 2086 +/- 28 Bq m-3. The radon concentration from fly ash samples. varied from 748 +/- 28 Bq m(-3) to 1417 +/- 111 Bq m(-3) and from 158 Bq m(-3) to 1810 Bq m(-3) in cement samples, with an average of 624 +/- 169 Bq m(-3).