Hyderabad: Radon levels were found to be above the danger mark, wherever laterite mines and stone crushing units have set up base in the last 50 years.
Research done by JNTU’s environmental department two years ago, in several parts of the city, has shown that the presence of radon was more near mines and quarries.
Radon is the most important source of natural radiation and its radiological importance resides not in the element itself, but in its short-lived progeny and its presence in gas form.
The study proved that radiation levels at quarries, stone crushing units and laterite mines were higher than the radiation being released from diagnostic x-rays, nuclear medicine and radiation therapy.
The highest presence of radon found in the city — 26.91 Bqm³, said to be beyond permissible limits — was found in the areas surrounding JNTU-H, Raidurg, Gajularamaram and Jinnaram, which are near the stone crushing units.
The JNTU-H study found that the dust which comes from these mines contains heavy elements that emit radioactivity. Associate Professor Dr V. Himabindu of the Centre for Environment of JNTUH said the research was done by a student P. Anil Kumar from 2012 to 2014.
“Along with the student, a team of research scholars from the department including Krishnamurthy and Raghu collected samples from JNTU-H, Nizampet crossroads, Shilparamam, Gajularamaram stone crushing units and residential areas, Balanagar, Gachibowli, Pragathi Nagar lake, Jinnaram Ready mix plants, KPHB temple bus stop, Jubilee Hills check post, KBR park, Chintal, Hussainsagar, Lumbini Park, RTC crossroads, Indira Park, Kokapet and other localities and identified radon quantity by adopting various methods suggested by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre,” she said.
She said that at most of the places having stone crushing units 10 to 20 years ago also reported dangerous levels of radon. “Most places recorded radon level at more than 10 Bqm³,’’ she said.
