Natural radioactivity level in beach sand along the coast of Xiamen Island, China. Issue 1 (15th February 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Huang, Yingnan; Lu, Xinwei; Ding, Xiang; Feng, Tingting
• Is Part Of: Marine pollution bulletin. Volume 91:Issue 1(2015)
• Page Start: 357
• Page End: 361
• Publication Date: 2015-02-15
• Subjects: Natural radioactivity -- Sand -- Coast -- Radiation hazard -- Gamma ray spectrometry; 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.2014.11.046
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0025-326X

Abstract

Highlights: Natural radioactivity in beach sand from southeast coast of China was determined. The radiological hazards of beach sand were evaluated. The level of public exposures is insignificant in the investigated area. Abstract: The activity concentration of 40 K, 232 Th and 226 Ra was determined in beach sand samples collected from Xiamen Island, China using gamma ray spectrometry. The activity concentrations of 40 K, 232 Th and 226 Ra in the beach sand range from 197.4 to 487.6, 6.5 to 41.4 and 7.9 to 25.7 Bq kg −1 with the mean of 401.0, 11.3 and 14.1 Bq kg −1, respectively, which are lower than the averages of Chinese soil and world soil. The radium equivalent activity values in all beach sand samples are lower than the recommended limit of 370 Bq kg −1 . The external hazard index values are less than unity. The outdoor air absorbed dose rate and the corresponding annual effective dose rate of beach sand investigated are lower than the worldwide average.