Radon: Radioactive Indoor Pollutant Identification
The question asks to identify the radioactive element that poses a risk as an indoor pollutant.
Understanding Radon as an Indoor Pollutant
- Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas.
- It originates from the radioactive decay of uranium and thorium found in soil, rock, and water.
- Being a gas, radon can seep into buildings from the ground through cracks in foundations, walls, and floors.
- It accumulates indoors because it is often trapped, especially in poorly ventilated spaces.
- Radon is colorless and odorless, making it undetectable without specialized equipment.
- Its radioactive nature means it emits alpha particles, which can damage lung tissue and increase the risk of lung cancer if inhaled over prolonged periods.
Evaluating Other Options
- Oxygen – 18, Nitrogen – 15, and Carbon – 13 are stable isotopes of common elements. While they exist naturally, they are not radioactive and are not considered indoor pollutants in the context of radioactivity.
Conclusion
Based on its properties as a radioactive gas that accumulates indoors and poses health risks, Radon is the correct answer.
Important Questions from Air and Noise Pollution
The Indian Parliament passed a Central Legislation named Air Pollution Control Act in the year:
Which of the following is NOT a method of noise abatement and control?
An inversion layer extends from ground surface to a height of 200 m. The temperature on the ground surface is 35°C. If the environmental lapse rate is 4.0°C per km, the temperature at the top of the layer is
Water vapour in an urban atmosphere is found to exert a pressure of 6.0 mb at 27°C. The density of water vapour is
Given below are two statements, one labelled as Assertion (A) and the other labelled as Reason (R). Read the statements and choose the correct answer using the code given below.
Assertion (A) : Stratosphere is a strongly layered structure.
Reason (R) : Stratosphere is neutrally stable.
