Evaluation and analysis of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K and radon exhalation rate in the soil samples for health risk assessment. (2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kansal, Sandeep; Mehra, Rohit
• Is Part Of: International journal of low radiation. Volume 10:Number 1(2015)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 13
• Publication Date: 2015
• Subjects: gamma spectrometry -- Raeq -- annual effective dose -- radium -- thorium -- potassium -- radon exhalation rate -- soil contamination -- environmental pollution -- health risk assessment -- solid state nuclear track detectors -- radiological risks -- natural radioactivity -- low radiation; Radiobiology -- Periodicals; Radiation -- Health aspects -- Periodicals; Radiation tolerance -- Periodicals; 571.4505
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1477-6545

Abstract

The measurements of radium, thorium and potassium using gamma spectrometry and radon exhalation rates using solid-state nuclear track detectors (LR-115, Type-II plastic) are carried out in the soil samples collected from some parts of western districts of Haryana, India. The activity concentrations of 226 Ra, 232 Th and 40 K range from 13.93 to 142 Bq kg −1, 35.95 to 91.78 Bq kg −1 and 299.57 to 1056.77 Bq kg −1, respectively. The values of total absorbed dose and annual effective dose (indoors and outdoors) were found to vary from 42.12 to 140.05 nGy h −1, 0.22 to 0.69 mSv y −1 and 0.05 to 0.17 mSv y −1 respectively. The radium equivalent activity (Raeq ) in all the soil samples varies from 92.51 to 287.08 Bq kg −1 with an average of 184.15 Bq kg −1 . The radium values are lower than the recommended safe limit of 370 Bq kg −1 hence there is no radiological risk to the residents of the studied area.