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

Abstract

Coal and its by-product fly ash are technologically important materials being used for power generation and in the manufacture of bricks, sheets, cement, 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 (indoor and outdoor), soil, ground water, oil and gas deposits contributes the largest fraction of the natural radiation dose to populations, tracking its concentration is thus of paramount importance for radiological protection . Sample of coal and fly ash were collected from different thermal power stations in northern India and cement samples from National Council for Cement and Building Materials. Ballabgarh (Haryana). India and were analysed for radon concentration . For the measurement, alpha sensitive LR-115 type II plastic track detectors were used. Based upon the available data, the annual effective dose and the lifetime fata lity risk factors have been calculated. The radon concentration from coal samples varied from 433 ± 28 Bq m^-3 to 2086 ± 28 Bq m^-3. The radon concentration from fly ash samples varied from 748 ± 28Bq m^-3 to 1417 ± 111 Bq m^-3and from 158 Bq m^-3 to 1810 Bq m^-3in cement samples, with an average of 624 ± 169 Bq m^-3.