ASSESSMENT OF RADON IN SOIL AND WATER IN DIFFERENT REGIONS OF KOLHAPUR DISTRICT, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA.

Researchers have already established that inhalation of high radon concentration is hazardous to human health. Radon concentration has been measured in water and soil, in various part of Kolhapur district has been carried out by the AQTEK Smart RnDuo which is an active device technique. The observed minimum value of the radon mass exhalation rate of the soil is 13.16 ± 0.83 mBq/kg/h and maximum is 35.11 ± 1.84 mBq/kg/h. The minimum value of the Radon concentration in water is 0.33 ± 0.052 Bq/L and maximum is 7.32 ± 0.078 Bq/L. These values of radon concentration are below the action of recommended level by the USEPA, which is set as the maximum contaminant level of 11.1-148 Bq/L of radon in drinking water. Total annual effective dose rate of water is 11 µSv/y. The purpose of present study is to assess radiological risk from consumption of water that provide in Kolhapur district and to evaluate the radon mass exhalation rate of soil in few places of Kolhapur district.

Physicochemical, thermal and pasting characteristics of gamma irradiated rice starches.

Starches isolated from two recently released rice cultivars (PR 121 and PR 116) grown in sub-tropical climates of Punjab, India were subjected to gamma irradiation at 0, 2, and 10 kGy doses using a Co(60) irradiator source. Physicochemical, thermal, pasting, and morphological properties were studied. Irradiation resulted in a significant decrease in apparent amylose content, swelling power and pasting properties. Carboxyl content and solubility increased with irradiation. The granule morphology was evaluated using scanning electron microscope, particle size analyzer and light microscope. Irradiation resulted in formation of small size granules. Granules were irregular and polyhedral in shape. The granule morphology and A-type X-ray diffraction pattern were not altered by irradiation.

Comparative study of natural radioactivity levels in soil samples from the Upper Siwaliks and Punjab, India using gamma-ray spectrometry.

Natural radioactive materials under certain conditions can reach hazardous radiological levels. So, it becomes necessary to study the natural radioactivity levels in soil to assess the dose for the population in order to know the health risks and to have a baseline for future changes in the environmental radioactivity due to human activities. The natural radionuclide (226Ra, 232Th, and 40K) contents in soil were determined for 26 locations around the Upper Siwaliks of Kala Amb, Nahan and Morni Hills, Northern India, using high-resolution gamma-ray spectrometric analysis. It was observed that the concentration of natural radionuclides viz., 226Ra, 232Th and 40K, in the soil varies from 28.3+/-0.5 to 81.0+/-1.7Bqkg(-1), 61.2+/-1.3 to 140.3+/-2.6Bqkg(-1) and 363.4+/-4.9 to 1002.2+/-11.2Bqkg(-1) respectively. The total absorbed dose rate calculated from activity concentration of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K ranged from 71.1 to 162.0nGyh(-1). The radium equivalent (Req) and the external hazard index (Hex), which resulted from the natural radionuclides in soil, were also calculated and found to vary from 149.4 to 351.8Bqkg(-1)and from 0.40 to 0.95 respectively. These values in Upper Siwaliks area were compared with that from the adjoining areas of Punjab. The radium equivalent activities in all the soil samples were lower than the limit (370Bqkg(-1)) set in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) report and the dose equivalent was within the safe limit of 1mSvy(-1).