Total alpha radioactivity in fertilizers used in the Indian state of West Bengal using CR-39 SSNTDs: Presentation of a comparative view for different types of fertilizers.

Use of fertilizers in agriculture soils is a worldwide practice to increase the yield of agricultural products. Fertilizers may contain radioactive elements may be present along with plant's nutrients in fertilizers. Migrated radioactive elements from the fertilized soils can find their entry into the environment and human body through several ways, which may lead to induce a potential radiological risk to human health.

Impact of meteorological parameters on soil radon at Kolkata, India: investigation using machine learning techniques.

The daily soil radon activity has been measured continuously over a year with BARASOL BMC2 probe at a measuring site of Jadavpur University Campus in Kolkata, India. The dependency of soil radon activity with different atmospheric parameters such as soil temperature, soil pressure, humidity, air temperature, and rainfall has been also analyzed. The whole study period is divided in four seasons as proposed by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD).

Elevated radon level in drinking water of Ajodhya Hill Area of West Bengal, India: probable health impact on lung and stomach.

A screening survey has been carried out to measure the radon concentration in drinking water at various locations of Ajodhya hill and surrounding areas in Purulia district of West Bengal, India, using AlphaGUARD radon monitor. The obtained Rn concentration in ground water varies from 5.71 ± 0.

A systematic review on groundwater radon distribution with human health consequences and probable mitigation strategy.

Groundwater radon contamination is a serious global concern for its eco-toxicological effects. The major health hazard occurs due to toxic indoor air inhalation and consumption of contaminated drinking water supplied from different distribution systems, especially groundwater. There are fragmented reports on the measurement of radon contamination and their health consequences with physical radon removal strategies as well as characterization of inhabitant microbial communities.

Water radon risk in Susunia hill area: an assessment in terms of radiation dose.

Radiological impact of radon in air is a global issue whereas radon in water has local consequences. Considering its importance, we have conducted a study on radon activity measurements in 316 tube-well water samples collected from Susunia hill area in Bankura district of West Bengal, India during the period of 25th December 2018-2nd February 2020. Radon contents are measured using AlphaGUARD radon monitor.

Monitoring of soil radon by SSNTD in Eastern India in search of possible earthquake precursor.

The present paper deals with monitoring soil radon-222 concentration at two different locations, designated Site A and Site B, 200 m apart at Jadavpur University campus, Kolkata, India, with a view to find possible precursors for the earthquakes that occurred within a few hundred kilometers from the monitoring site. The solid state nuclear track detector CR-39 has been used for detection of radon gas coming out from soil. Radon-222 time series at both locations during the period August 2012-December 2013 have been analysed.

RADIOLOGICAL IMPACT OF SOME COMMON FOODS OF SOUTHERN PART OF WEST BENGAL, INDIA.

An appreciable portion of human exposure to natural radioactivity comes from food and drinking water. Gross alpha radioactivity has been measured in thirty one food items consumed almost every day by the people of southern part of West Bengal, India, by using the solid state nuclear track detector LR-115. The annual effective doses due to intake of alpha-emitting radionuclides through these food items have also been estimated, and the total average annual dose received by an adultthrough ingestion of these foodstuffs calculated, considering the food habit of the people of the region.

Assessment of alpha radioactivity and dose estimation in widely used medicinal plants environmental monitoring of afforestation.

This paper reports the presence of alpha radioactivity in a few medicinal plants, which form the main components of some hebal drugs. Assessment of effective dose has also. been done.

Assessment of real time traffic noise attenuation by tree belts within Kolkata city (India).

The study of the existing scenario of the effect of trees and shrubs as urban screen plantings for abating the level of real time traffic-induced noise pollution in Kolkata city deserves extreme importance. However, no such data are available till date in this area. This paper reports the result of a preliminary study to assess the attenuation of real time traffic noise by tree belts at three different important locations of the city.

Measurement of alpha radioactivity and dose assessment in common food crops with SSNTD.

Radioactivity is present everywhere in the environment including soil, from where it transfers to vegetation and plants. These vegetations when taken as food result in transfer of the radioactivity to human beings which may cause health hazards. Thus information about the presence of radioactivity in vegetation, plants and soil is highly desirable.

Assessment of alpha radioactivity in lipstick, nailpolish, toothpaste and vermilion using CR-39 detector.

Human beings are always exposed to radiation from chemical cosmetics. In order to collect information regarding the radioactivity of chemical cosmetics used in our daily life, we studied the alpha radioactivity in different cosmetics samples, such as lipsticks, nail-polish, toothpaste and vermilion. The significant accumulation ofradionuclide in and on the tissues, directly or indirectly exposed due to the lipsticks, toothpaste, vermilion, may cause health hazards.

Assessment of alpha activity of building materials commonly used in West Bengal, India.

This paper, reports for the first time, an extensive study of alpha activity of all widely used building materials (plaster of Paris, stone chips, marble, white cement, mosaic stone, limestone, sand, granite, cement brick, asbestos, red brick, cement tile, ceramic tile and ceramics) in West Bengal, India. The alpha activities have been measured using Solid State Nuclear Track Detector (SSNTD), a very sensitive detector for alpha particles. The samples were collected from local markets of Kolkata.

Measurement of natural radioactivity in chemical fertilizer and agricultural soil: evidence of high alpha activity.

People are exposed to ionizing radiation from the radionuclides that are present in different types of natural sources, of which phosphate fertilizer is one of the most important sources. Radionuclides in phosphate fertilizer belonging to 232Th and 238U series as well as radioisotope of potassium (40K) are the major contributors of outdoor terrestrial natural radiation. The study of alpha activity in fertilizers, which is the first ever in West Bengal, has been performed in order to determine the effect of the use of phosphate fertilizers on human health.