Quantification of an alpha flux based radiological dose from seasonal exposure to (222)Rn, (220)Rn and their different EEC species

This study summarizes the seasonal experimental data on the activity concentrations of indoor (222)Rn (Radon), (220)Rn (Thoron) and their progeny in Mansa and Muktsar districts of Punjab (India) using LR-115 solid state nuclear track detector based time integrated pin-hole cup dosimeters and deposition based progeny sensors for the assessment of radiological dose. The indoor (222)Rn concentration was observed higher in the rainy and winter seasons while (220)Rn concentration was observed higher in the winter season. However, Equilibrium Equivalent Concentrations (EECs) of (222)Rn and (220)Rn exhibited distinct seasonal behaviour unlike their parent nuclides. The average equilibrium factors for (222)Rn (F(Rn)) and (220)Rn (F(Tn)) were found 0.47 ± 0.1 and 0.05 ± 0.01, respectively. The annual arithmetic means of unattached fractions of (222)Rn ([Formula: see text] ) and (220)Rn ([Formula: see text] ) were found to be 0.09 ± 0.02 and 0.10 ± 0.02, respectively. The attachment rate (X(Rn)) and attachment rate coefficients (β) of (222)Rn progeny were also calculated to understand the proper behaviour of progeny species in the region. A new alpha flux based technique has been proposed and used for the assessment of absorbed dose rate and annual effective dose rate for radiation protection purpose.