Determinación de la concentración de gas radón en los suelos de rumipamba, Cantón Colta -Chimborazo

Abstract

One of the main problems is that currently, the information on radon gas present in the soils of the Ecuadorian territory is scarce due to the lack of research by universities, private companies, and the public sector that has competence in the monitoring and control of gases that can affect the health of citizens. This study aimed to determine the concentration of Radon gas in the soils of Rumipamba, located in the Colta Canton, in the province of Chimborazo. The research was divided into two phases: field and laboratory. In the first part, sampling was carried out to carry out the physicochemical analyses to obtain the concentration of Radon gas with the help of the RAD7 detection system, in which the week's method was established: a drying unit and a stainless steel probe, for 2 hours at each point. For the systematic sampling, 27 equidistant points were determined with an extension of 500 m, with a study area of 5 km2, where a correlation was established between the physicochemical parameters and the gas concentration with the Pearson analytical method in the Pass software. In the second phase, the wet pH, electrical conductivity, humidity, organic matter, and bulk density statistical analyses were performed. Statistically, the results obtained from the concentration of radon gas vary between 4110 ± 148 to 120001 ± 253 Bq/m3. It is concluded that the correlation analysis between the concentration data of radon gas, relative humidity and atmospheric pressure, concerning humidity and radon gas, there is a negative correlation, which indicates an inversely proportional interaction, the opposite of barometric pressure, which has a very weak positive correlation with a minimal incidence.