Abstract
This paper explores the medical geology aspect associated with the release of radon through geological deposits. To be able to assess the release of radon it is essential to understand that release of radon originates from uranium deposits and determine where uranium deposits can be located. If knowledge on the subject under investigation is gained, government officials, corporations and the general public can interpret this data to improve and possibly eliminate health and safety hazards caused by radioactivity associated with radon. Although the release of radon through geological deposits is universal, this paper has a specific focus on the geographic region of New Brunswick, Canada. The Information attained for the purpose of this …show more content…
These radioactive elements decay spontaneously into different elements while also releasing ionizing radiation from the nuclei. The radiation most commonly emitted from these radioactive elements are alpha (α) particles, beta (β) particles, and gamma rays (γ). An alpha particle consist of two protons and two neutrons, in which upon release decreases the atomic radii of the parent material. A beta particle is a negatively charged particle with the mass of an electron. Since nuclei’s do not have electrons this is regarded as the decay of a neutron into a proton. On the exterior of a living being gamma rays are the most penetrive. Although alpha particles may not be as penetrive, they are considered to be the most dangerous type of radiation due to the mass and charge of the particle which can cause intense ionization. The beta particles are considered of intermediate importance. The rate of change of a radioactive element is indicated by its half-life, a period of time in which it takes half of the original element to have decayed. There are several ways to measure radioactivity. In most countries, including Canada, radioactivity is measures in the SI unit Becquerel (Bq). One Becquerel is one atomic disintegration per second. Radioactivity due to radon is often referred to as a concentration in the air of …show more content…
It occurs in three natural isotopes 2 19Rn (actinon), 220Rn (thoron), and 222Rn which is commonly referred to as radon. Thoron is produced in the thorium-232 decay series with its principle mode of decay being β (beta) particles. Actinon has a very short half-life of around 3 seconds and is only present in around 0.7% of natural uranium. 222Rn (radon) is the main radon isotope of concern. It occurs as a product of the radioactive decay of solid radium (226Ra) which is derived from the decay of uranium-238 series. Uranium-238 has a half-life of 3.82 days and provides about 50% the total radiation dose of an average person. Of that near 50%, 38.1% is said to be from the inhalation of radon progeny. This percentage may vary with concentration of uranium in different
This paper explores the medical geology aspect associated with the release of radon through geological deposits. To be able to assess the release of radon it is essential to understand that release of radon originates from uranium deposits and determine where uranium deposits can be located. If knowledge on the subject under investigation is gained, government officials, corporations and the general public can interpret this data to improve and possibly eliminate health and safety hazards caused by radioactivity associated with radon. Although the release of radon through geological deposits is universal, this paper has a specific focus on the geographic region of New Brunswick, Canada. The Information attained for the purpose of this …show more content…
These radioactive elements decay spontaneously into different elements while also releasing ionizing radiation from the nuclei. The radiation most commonly emitted from these radioactive elements are alpha (α) particles, beta (β) particles, and gamma rays (γ). An alpha particle consist of two protons and two neutrons, in which upon release decreases the atomic radii of the parent material. A beta particle is a negatively charged particle with the mass of an electron. Since nuclei’s do not have electrons this is regarded as the decay of a neutron into a proton. On the exterior of a living being gamma rays are the most penetrive. Although alpha particles may not be as penetrive, they are considered to be the most dangerous type of radiation due to the mass and charge of the particle which can cause intense ionization. The beta particles are considered of intermediate importance. The rate of change of a radioactive element is indicated by its half-life, a period of time in which it takes half of the original element to have decayed. There are several ways to measure radioactivity. In most countries, including Canada, radioactivity is measures in the SI unit Becquerel (Bq). One Becquerel is one atomic disintegration per second. Radioactivity due to radon is often referred to as a concentration in the air of …show more content…
It occurs in three natural isotopes 2 19Rn (actinon), 220Rn (thoron), and 222Rn which is commonly referred to as radon. Thoron is produced in the thorium-232 decay series with its principle mode of decay being β (beta) particles. Actinon has a very short half-life of around 3 seconds and is only present in around 0.7% of natural uranium. 222Rn (radon) is the main radon isotope of concern. It occurs as a product of the radioactive decay of solid radium (226Ra) which is derived from the decay of uranium-238 series. Uranium-238 has a half-life of 3.82 days and provides about 50% the total radiation dose of an average person. Of that near 50%, 38.1% is said to be from the inhalation of radon progeny. This percentage may vary with concentration of uranium in different