Radon monitoring in soil samples from the region has yielded encouraging results for properly delineating different faults within the region. Radon, a colorless and tasteless radioactive alpha particle emitting noble gas, has two roles in man’s life. On one hand, it causes vital health hazards to not only uranium mine workers but also to people living in houses and buildings. On the other hand, it is of great assistance in mineral exploration, earthquake prediction, study of volcanic activities, and search for geothermal energy sources. Its presence in the indoor air of the houses can cause lung cancer, while, its presence in the drinking water can lead to stomach and gastrointestinal cancer. It has proved to be an excellent friend and a powerful enemy at the same time. To study its role as a foe research work on the determining the radon concentration in different water sources of the University of Peshawar and adjoining area has been initiated. Preliminary investigations have shown that radon concentration in the water samples collected from tube wells within the Campus and the adjoining area, including Khyber Teaching Hospital (KTH), Pakistan Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR) and Islamia University, are found to be higher than the safe limit of 11.1 BqL-1 as recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for healthy drinking water.
Research work on geo-environmental study over Karak thrust and adjoining area has also been initiated using radon monitoring as a tool. Radon monitoring in soil samples from the region has yielded encouraging results for properly delineating different faults within the region. Radon monitoring in drinking water samples from different sources within the region has revealed that the water from the springs have radon concentration higher than EPA limit of 11.1 BqL-1 and ,therefore, may be used with caution for drinking and other domestic utilities. Experimental work on an M.S. level research project entitled, “Study of Heavy Minerals and Exploration of placer Gold, Silver and base metals in the Siwalik Sandstone of Karak anticline and its adjoining areas in district Karak, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan” has been initiated. This study is mainly based on the exploration of gold, silver, base metals and heavy minerals, which includes determination of characteristics, concentrations, and techniques of placer gold, silver, base metals and heavy minerals of Karak anticline and its adjoining areas.
Research work on geo-environmental study over Karak thrust and adjoining area has also been initiated using radon monitoring as a tool. Radon monitoring in soil samples from the region has yielded encouraging results for properly delineating different faults within the region. Radon monitoring in drinking water samples from different sources within the region has revealed that the water from the springs have radon concentration higher than EPA limit of 11.1 BqL-1 and ,therefore, may be used with caution for drinking and other domestic utilities. Experimental work on an M.S. level research project entitled, “Study of Heavy Minerals and Exploration of placer Gold, Silver and base metals in the Siwalik Sandstone of Karak anticline and its adjoining areas in district Karak, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan” has been initiated. This study is mainly based on the exploration of gold, silver, base metals and heavy minerals, which includes determination of characteristics, concentrations, and techniques of placer gold, silver, base metals and heavy minerals of Karak anticline and its adjoining areas.