Determination of Radon Exhalation Rates from Tiles (Marble, Granite and Ceramic) Using LR115 Type II Passive Technique

Abstract

Exhalation of 222Rn, α-radioactive inert gas, is associated with the presence of 226Ra and
it's ultimate precursor uranium in the earth crust. It is a useful quantity to compare the relative importance of different materials of tiles (marble, granite and ceramic). Majority of new houses in Basrah (Iraq) are using tiles. Therefore, studies concerning the determination of radon exhalation rate from there materials were carried out using LR-115 Type ІІ passive
technique in this content, the Solid State Nuclear Track Detectors(SSNTDs) with a plastic
container('can' technique) were applied .There container were hermetically sealed and stored for 120 days to attain equilibrium between 222Rn and 226Ra . After exposure to radon, LR115 type II detectors were etched in 2.5N NaOH solution at 60°C for 2h. From the measured radon concentration values , 222Rn exhalation rates were determined. The average values of
exhalation rates for radon has been found of values ( 0.225, 1.529, 16.196 Bq m-2 h-1) for
marble, ceramic and granite respectively. Exhalation rates for granite has been found to be
several times higher than that for marble and ceramic. The results of the measurement has
been discussed.