Assessments of radioactivity concentration of natural radionuclides and radiological hazard indices in sediment samples from the East coast of Tamilnadu, India with statistical approach. Issue 1 (15th August 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ravisankar, R.; Chandramohan, J.; Chandrasekaran, A.; Prince Prakash Jebakumar, J.; Vijayalakshmi, I.; Vijayagopal, P.; Venkatraman, B.
• Is Part Of: Marine pollution bulletin. Volume 97:Issue 1/2(2015:Aug.)
• Page Start: 419
• Page End: 430
• Publication Date: 2015-08-15
• Subjects: Natural radioactivity -- Sediment -- Gamma ray spectrometry -- Radiological parameters -- Multivariate statistical analysis; Marine pollution -- Periodicals; Marine Biology -- Periodicals; Water Pollution -- Periodicals; Mer -- Pollution -- Périodiques; Publications périodiques; Pollution des mers; Lutte antipollution; Electronic journals; 363.7394
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.05.058
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0025-326X

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Figure shows the clustering of radioactive variables. Highlights: The radiation hazard parameters were below the recommended values of safety limits. Radiation hazard indices reflect study area become radiological safe to human beings. Pearson correlation, PCA and HCA results are in good agreement with each other. Abstract: This paper reports on the distribution of three natural radionuclides 238 U, 232 Th and 40 K in coastal sediments from Pattipulam to Devanampattinam along the East coast of Tamilnadu to establish baseline data for future environmental monitoring. Sediment samples were collected by a Peterson grab samples from 10 m water depth parallel to the shore line. Concentration of natural radionuclides were determined using a NaI(Tl) detector based γ-spectrometry. The mean activity concentration is ⩽2.21, 14.29 and 360.23 Bq kg −1 for 238 U, 232 Th and 40 K, respectively. The average activity of 232 Th, 238 U and 40 K is lower when compared to the world average value. Radiological hazard parameters were estimated based on the activity concentrations of 238 U, 232 Th and 40 K to find out any radiation hazard associated with the sediments. The radiological hazard parameters such as radium equivalent activity (Raeq ), absorbed gamma dose rates in air ( D R ), the annual gonadal dose equivalent (AGDE), annual effective dose equivalent (AEDE), external hazard index ( H ex ) internal hazard index ( H in ), activity utilization index (AUI) and excess lifetime cancer (ELCR) associated with the radionuclides were calculated and compared with internationally approved values and the recommended safety limits. Pearson correlation, principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) have been applied in order to recognize and classify radiological parameters in sediments collected at 22 sites on East coast of Tamilnadu. The values of radiation hazard parameters were comparable to the world averages and below the recommended values. Therefore, coastal sediments do not to pose any significant radiological health risk to the people living in nearby areas along East coast of Tamilnadu. The data obtained in this study will serve as a baseline data in natural radionuclide concentration in sediments along the coastal East coast of Tamilnadu.