A Study of Gamma Radiation and Health Risk from Historical Monuments in Rewari District, Haryana, India

Abstract

It is a systematic study of airborne radioactivity concentration in two historical monuments. The investigation was initiated in the Rewari district (southwest Haryana, India) in April,2024 to establish reliable baseline data on the ancient building air radiation level of the region. Country wide many areas have been found with elevated background gamma radiation, leading to several type of disorder in human beings effecting human health. The current study was undertaken as a precautionary measure and highlights the importance of radiation monitoring in non-industrial areas which could pose hidden health hazards. There are two natural sources of ionizing gamma radiation cosmic (solar or galactic) & terrestrial radiation. Isotopes of heavy elements & their decay products present in the earth’s crust are the major sources of terrestrial radiation. A portable radiation survey meter (Dosimeter) was employed to measure gamma radiation levels both indoors and outdoors. All dose rates displayed on the meter were recorded. The observed gamma radiation levels varied from 31 to 59 cpm (Counts Per Minute). The radiation dose rate measured for all the samples was lower than the reported UNSCEAR gamma dose rate range 20-200 nSv/h. AED was also found to be below the threshold of 1.0mSv/year as per ICRP. However, the estimated ELCR (Excess Lifetime Cancer Risk) was found to be higher than the global average value 0.290×10-3.