Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences  -   Volume 8 Number 2

Seasonal Variations and Characterization of Solid Aerosols Related to Faisalabad (Pakistan) Environment
Muhammad Attique Khan Shahid, Khadim Hussain and Mariam Saeed Awan

http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1927-5129.2012.08.02.50

Abstract: Black solid aerosols were monitored continuously at Faisalabad using Gaussian dispersion model and nucleation model. Data for one year 2006 was analyzed here keeping in view the meteorological and climatological conditions of Faisalabad co-relating them with concentration gradient. Winter has minimum concentration, i.e. equivalent to background level followed by summer (598.80 mg/m3), Moon Soon (2762.00 mg/m3) and finally Post Moon Soon (8863.00 mg/m3). Temperature and pressure gradients both were negative co-relationed with black solid aerosols. These results were not in accordance with other studies, the reason may be the complexity of the Faisalabad environment on account of its geographical, geological and industrial setup confirmed by longitudinal, latitudinal effects and mix plume behavior. A positive co-relationship between biomass burning and seasonal variation i.e. low concentration of particulate matter i.e., 637.30 μg/m3 in summer and high in winter such as 3954 μg/m3.

Keywords: Black solid aerosols, Gaussian dispersion model, meteorological and climatological conditions, Temperature and pressure gradients, complexity of the Faisalabad environment.

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The Effect of Grain Size on Radon Exhalation Rate in Soil Samples of Dera Ismail Khan in Pakistan

Tabassum Nasir and Nisar Ahmad

http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1927-5129.2012.08.02.29

Abstract: Radon concentration and its exhalation rate has been measured from twenty five soil samples collected from seven different locations of Dera Ismail Khan, in the north west of Pakistan. These samples were crushed after drying and passed through sieves with different sizes of pores to get three grain sizes, £0.595 mm, 0.595-2.00 mm and 2.00-4.00 mm of soil. CR-39 based NRPB (National Radiological Protection Board) radon dosimeters have been used to measure the radon concentration and exhalation rates. The maximum average value of radon exhalation rate has found to be: (3.57±0.38) Bq m-2 hr-1 in the samples having grain size 2.00-4.00 mm and the minimum as: (2.21±0.26) Bq m-2 hr-1, in the samples with grain size £ 0.0595 mm. This indicates that the radon exhalation rate increases with the grain size. The maximum average value of radon exhalation rate has been found in samples collected from river side where soil texture is silty clay loam. The obtained values of radon exhalation rate for all the samples are well below the world average value of 57.60 Bq m-2 hr-1.

Keywords: Radon concentration, Radon exhalation rate, grain size, soil texture.

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