Determination of radon exhalation rates in soil samples using sealed can technique and CR-39 detectors.

Background: In this study, the so-called sealed can technique dosimeters have been used to determine the radon exhalation rates in soil samples collected from different sites in Bethlehem region- Palestine.

Methods: For the measurement of radon concentration emanated from these samples, alpha-sensitive, Solid State Nuclear Track Detectors (SSNTD's) have been used. A total of 82 soil samples were collected simultaneously.

Results: It was found that the radon concentrations in these soil samples varied from 19.1 Bqm-3 to 572.9 Bqm-3 with an average value of 145.0 Bqm-3 . The radon exhalation rate in these collected samples also varied from 6.9 mBqm-2  h-1 (0.26 mBqkg-1  h-1 ) to 207.2 mBqm-2  h-1 (7.84 mBqkg-1  h-1 ) with an a total average value of 52.2 mBqm-2  h-1 (1.97 mBqkg-1  h-1 ).

Conclusions: All the values of radium content in all samples under test were found to be quite lower than the corresponding the global value 30 Bqkg-1 . The present results show that the radon concentration and the resulting doses in all soil samples are below the allowed limit from ICRP. The radiological health implication to the population that may result from these doses is found to be low. The measurements have been taken as representing a baseline database of values of these radionuclides in the soils in the area. The results were compared with national and worldwide results.