Study on the dispersion of radon (222Rn) in geological objects in Bat Xat district, Lao Cai province, Northern Vietnam

Authors

  • Van Dung Nguyen*
  • Thi Lan Anh Vu
  • Thi Ha Thu Dang
  • Ha Phuong Vu
  • Thi Cuc Nguyen

Abstract

The Bat Xat district in the Lao Cai province of Vietnam has enormous potential for resources of copper and rare earth minerals. In fact, exploration and exploitation activities for these minerals have brought about positive economic benefits to this area in recent years. However, this activity also brings about negative impacts on the environment and the surrounding population. The mineral deposits in this area contain a significant content of radioactive substances like uranium and thorium that radiate radon (222Rn) and thoron (220Rn). Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the distribution of radon as a function of depth of geological objects in the study areas. Results of this study showed that radon concentration has an exponential distribution with soil depth with R2 ranging from 0.87 to 0.97. It was found that radon concentration in sand was higher than that in clay and soils mixed with gravels. It was also shown that the density and moisture content of the soil is inversely proportional to the diffusion length of radon in the soil.

Keywords:

dispersion, Lao Cai, RAD-7, radon concentration, radon in soil

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31276/VJSTE.64(4).32-35

Classification number

2.1, 4.3

Author Biographies

Van Dung Nguyen

Faculty of Environment, Hanoi University of Mining and Geology, 18 Vien Street, Duc Thang Ward, Bac Tu Liem District, Hanoi, Vietnam

Thi Lan Anh Vu

Faculty of Environment, Hanoi University of Mining and Geology, 18 Vien Street, Duc Thang Ward, Bac Tu Liem District, Hanoi, Vietnam

Faculty of Environmental Science, University of Science, Vietnam National University - Hanoi, 334 Nguyen Trai Street, Thanh Xuân Trung Ward, Thanh Xuan District, Hanoi, Vietnam

Thi Ha Thu Dang

Center for Life Science Research, Faculty of Biology, University of Science, Vietnam National University - Hanoi, 334 Nguyen Trai Street, Thanh Xuân Trung Ward, Thanh Xuan District, Hanoi, Vietnam

Ha Phuong Vu

Center for Life Science Research, Faculty of Biology, University of Science, Vietnam National University - Hanoi, 334 Nguyen Trai Street, Thanh Xuân Trung Ward, Thanh Xuan District, Hanoi, Vietnam

Thi Cuc Nguyen

Faculty of Environment, Hanoi University of Mining and Geology, 18 Vien Street, Duc Thang Ward, Bac Tu Liem District, Hanoi, Vietnam

Downloads

Published

2022-12-15

Received 4 January 2021; revised 20 March 2021; accepted 1 April 2021

How to Cite

Van Dung Nguyen, Thi Lan Anh Vu, Thi Ha Thu Dang, Ha Phuong Vu, & Thi Cuc Nguyen. (2022). Study on the dispersion of radon (222Rn) in geological objects in Bat Xat district, Lao Cai province, Northern Vietnam. Vietnam Journal of Science, Technology and Engineering, 64(4), 32-35. https://doi.org/10.31276/VJSTE.64(4).32-35

Issue

Section

Physical Sciences