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Tendency of radioactive radon gas to accumulate within the indoor environment can cause serious hazard to person. Presented study has been carried in 102 houses of district Udham Singh Nagar of Uttarakhand. Gaseous radon and thoron levels were measured with pinhole twin cup dosimeters, and decay products were measured with progeny sensors (DTPS/DRPS). LR-115 (SSNTD) was used as a detector in both techniques. The average radon and thoron values (in Bq m−3) were found to be 36.7 ± 9.5 and 48.8 ± 21.2, respectively. The radon and thoron progeny were found to be 17.1 ± 4.5 and 1.7 ± 0.5 Bq m−3, respectively. The concentration of radon/thoron and progenies were estimated in different seasons and doses were also calculated by applicable formulae. The total annual effective dose (in mSv year−1) due to inhalation of radon, thoron and their progenies concentration was found at 1.64 ± 0.34. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of uranium and its decay product radon in water are the most important concern in human health. In this paper, efforts have been made to measure and correlate the uranium (Using an LED Fluorimeter) and radon concentrations (Using SMART RnDuo) in the water samples from the Budhakedar region of the Garhwal Himalaya to assess the risk. The concentrations of uranium and radon in the water samples were found to vary between Below Detection Level (BDL) to 1.70 Bq L−1 (with an arithmetic mean of 0.15 Bq L−1) and 0.43 to 1.29 Bq L−1 (with an arithmetic mean of 0.75 Bq L−1) respectively. The annual effective dose to the inhabitants of the study region was also calculated for the different age groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The self-standing films of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) were irradiated under vacuum with 50 MeV lithium (Li3+) and 80 MeV carbon (C5+) ions to the fluences of 3 × 1014, 1 × 1015, 1 × 1016and 1 × 1017ions µm−2. The pristine and irradiated samples of PMMA films were studied by using ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) spectrophotometry, Fourier transform infrared, X-ray diffractrometer and atomic force microscopy. With increasing ion fluence of swift heavy ion (SHI), PMMA suffers degradation, UV–Vis spectra show a shift in the absorption band from the UV towards visible, attributing the formation of the modified system of bonds.EgandEadecrease with increasing ion fluence. The size of crystallite and crystallinity percentage decreases with increasing ion fluence. With SHI irradiation, the intensity of IR bands and characteristic bands of different functional groups are found to shift drastically. The change in (Eg) and (N) in carbon cluster is calculated. Shifting of the absorption band from the UV towards visible along with optical activity and as a result of irradiation, some defects are created in the polymer causing the formation of conjugated bonds and carbon clusters in the polymer, which in turn lead to the modification in optical properties that could be useful in the fabrication of optoelectronic devices, gas sensing, electromagnetic shielding and drug delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Introduction: India is experiencing health transition with a rising burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). There is a need to study risk factors of NCDs among poor and underprivileged section of the society. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was done among adults in an urban slum in Pune using the World Health Organization's STEP wise approach to surveillance (STEPS). Two hundred individuals selected by simple random sampling participated in this study. Information regarding dietary habits, physical activity, and tobacco and alcohol consumption was obtained. Physical measurements of height, weight, waist and hip circumference, and blood pressure were also done. Nominal and numerical variables in different groups were compared by Fisher's exact test and Student's t-test, respectively. Logistic regression was used to determine the association of various factors with high blood pressure. Results: Tobacco and alcohol consumption was observed in 22.5% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 16.9%–28.9%) and 11.5% (95% CI: 7.4%–16.8%) of individuals, which was significantly higher among males. 40.0% (95% CI: 33.2%–47.1%) of participants were doing less than recommended physical activity. 47% (95% CI: 40.0%–54.2%) of individuals were overweight or obese. The prevalence of high blood pressure was found to be 43.9% (95% CI: 36.6%–51.3%). Significant positive correlation was observed among different anthropometric variables. Multivariable logistic regression showed that there was significant positive association of high blood pressure with age (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.05 [95% CI: 1.02–1.08]) and waist hip ratio (aOR = 1.45 [95% CI: 1.01–2.09]). Conclusions: There is a high prevalence of risk factors for NCDs among residents of urban slum. Behavior change communication is required for adoption of healthy lifestyle and prevents NCDs in urban slums. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we present the variation of natural radioactivity in soil and water samples of Tehri Garhwal district of Garhwal Himalaya. The soil and water samples collected from different locations were studied and analyzed using Gamma ray spectrometry and Laser Fluoremetry techniques, respectively. The activity concentrations 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in the soil samples were found to vary 31 ± 6 to 67 ± 7 Bq kg−1 with an average 46 Bq kg−1, 38 ± 7 to 86 ± 10 Bq kg−1 with an average of 52 Bq kg−1 and 612 ± 120 to 1277 ± 168 Bq kg−1 with an average of 902 Bq kg−1, respectively. Uranium concentration in water samples was found to vary from BDL to 2 ppb with an average 0.6 ppb. The above measured values uranium in drinking water ware also be compare the uranium concentrations in drinking water in Ukimath area. The measured values of activity concentrations in the soil and water samples were found within permissible limits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present work, we report the results of measurements of indoor 222Rn, 220Rn, and their progeny concentrations in Ghuttu region of Tehri Garhwal district in the Uttarakhand state of India for radiation protection purposes. The measured concentrations of 222Rn, 220Rn, and their progeny were used to estimate the inhalation doses received by the public. The measured values were found to depend upon different seasons of a calendar year. The annual effective dose attributed to 222Rn, 220Rn, and their progeny exposure was estimated in the range of 0.93–2.37 mSv y−1 with an average of 1.54 ± 0.42 mSv y−1. No significant health risk has been found to be associated with the exposure of 222Rn, 220Rn, and their progeny in the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]