The Experts below are selected from a list of 360 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform
R Ravisankar - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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determination of Natural Radioactivity and the associated radiation hazards in building materials used in polur tiruvannamalai district tamilnadu india using gamma ray spectrometry with statistical approach
Journal of Geochemical Exploration, 2016Co-Authors: R Ravisankar, A Chandrasekaran, P Vijayagopal, Y Raghu, Suresh M Gandhi, B VenkatramanAbstract:Abstract The Natural Radioactivity in building materials collected from Polur, Tamilnadu has been determined using gamma ray spectrometer. The radiological parameters such as radium equivalent activity (Ra eq ), absorbed dose rate (D R ), annual effective dose rate (H R ), alpha index (I α ), gamma-index (I γ ), internal (H in ) and external hazard indices (H ex ) were evaluated to assess the radiation hazard for people dwelling in the study area. The calculated radiological parameters were taken for multivariate statistical analysis to study the relation between radionuclides and radiological parameters. The values obtained in the study are within the recommended safety limits, showing that these building materials do not pose any significant radiation hazard and hence the use of these materials in the construction for dwelling purpose can be considered to be safe for the inhabitants.
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assessment of Natural Radioactivity and function of minerals in soils of yelagiri hills tamilnadu india by gamma ray spectroscopic and fourier transform infrared ftir techniques with statistical approach
Spectrochimica Acta Part A: Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy, 2015Co-Authors: A Chandrasekaran, R Ravisankar, P Vijayagopal, P Eswaran, A Rajalakshmi, B VenkatramanAbstract:Abstract Gamma Ray and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic techniques were used to evaluate the Natural Radioactivity due to Natural radionuclides and mineralogical characterization in soils of Yelagiri hills, Tamilnadu, India. Various radiological parameters were calculated to assess the radiation hazards associated with the soil. The distribution pattern of activity due to Natural radionuclides is explained by Kriging method of mapping. Using FTIR spectroscopic technique the minerals such as quartz, microcline feldspar, orthoclase feldspar, kaolinite, montmorillonite, illite, and organic carbon were identified and characterized. The extinction coefficient values were calculated to know the relative distribution of major minerals such as quartz, microcline feldspar, orthoclase feldspar and kaolinite. The calculated values indicate that the amount of quartz is higher than orthoclase feldspar, microcline feldspar and much higher than kaolinite. Crystallinity index was calculated to know the crystalline nature of quartz. The result indicates that the presence of disordered crystalline quartz in soils. The relation between minerals and Radioactivity was assessed by multivariate statistical analysis (Pearson’s correlation and cluster analysis). The statistical analysis confirms that the clay mineral kaolinite and non-clay mineral quartz is the major factor than other major minerals to induce the important Radioactivity variables and concentrations of uranium and thorium.
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Natural Radioactivity in soil samples of yelagiri hills tamil nadu india and the associated radiation hazards
Radiation Physics and Chemistry, 2012Co-Authors: R Ravisankar, A Chandrasekaran, P Vijayagopal, B Venkatraman, G Senthilkumar, P Eswaran, A RajalakshmiAbstract:The Natural Radioactivity of soils at Yelagiri hills has been studied in this paper. The radioactivities of 25 samples have been measured with a NaI(Tl) detector. The Radioactivity concentrations of 238U, 232Th and 40K ranged from ≤2.17 to 53.23, 13.54 to 89.89 and from 625.09 to 2207.3 Bq kg−1, respectively. The measured activity concentrations for these radionuclides were compared with world average activity of soil. The average activity concentration of 232Th in the present study is 1.19 times higher than world median value while the activity of 238U and 40K is found to be lower. In order to evaluate the radiological hazard of the Natural Radioactivity, the radium equivalent activity Raeq, the absorbed dose rate DR, the annual effective dose rate and the external hazard index (Hex) have been calculated and compared with the internationally approved values. The study provides background Radioactivity concentrations in Yelagiri hills.
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measurement of Natural Radioactivity in building materials of namakkal tamil nadu india using gamma ray spectrometry
Applied Radiation and Isotopes, 2012Co-Authors: R Ravisankar, A Chandrasekaran, P Vijayagopal, A Rajalakshmi, K Vanasundari, M Suganya, V MeenakshisundaramAbstract:The Natural level of Radioactivity in building materials is one of the major causes of external exposure to γ-rays. The primordial radionuclides in building materials are one of the sources of radiation hazard in dwellings made of these materials. By the determination of the Radioactivity level in building materials, the indoor radiological hazard to human health can be assessed. This is an important precautionary measure whenever the dose rate is found to be above the recommended limits. The aim of this work was to measure the specific activity concentration of (226)Ra, (232)Th and (40)K in commonly used building materials from Namakkal, Tamil Nadu, India, using gamma-ray spectrometer. The radiation hazard due to the total Natural Radioactivity in the studied building materials was estimated by different approaches. The concentrations of the Natural radionuclides and the radium equivalent activity in studied samples were compared with the corresponding results of different countries. From the analysis, it is found that these materials may be safely used as construction materials and do not pose significant radiation hazards.
Şeref Turhan - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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environmental evaluation of Natural Radioactivity in soil near a lignite burning power plant in turkey
Applied Radiation and Isotopes, 2017Co-Authors: E Goren, Şeref Turhan, Asli Kurnaz, A M K Garad, C Duran, F A Ugur, Z YegingilAbstract:Abstract Natural radionuclides are released into the environment together with fly ash from the coal-burning power plant and cause an increase in the Natural Radioactivity in environmental samples. The study concerns to the evaluation the influence of Kangal lignite-burning power plant (LBPP) with a power of 457 MWe, which has been in operation since 1989, on Natural radionuclide a concentration in surface soil samples around it. Activity concentrations of Natural radionuclides (226Ra, 232Th, 40K and 222Rn) in the soil samples, and emanation coefficient (EC) and mass (ERM) and surface (ERS) exhalation rate of radon were determined by using a gamma-ray spectrometer with an HPGe detector. The average values of 226Ra, 232Th, 40K and 222Rn, EC, ERM and ERS were found as 37±5, 17±3, 222±30 Bq kg−1 and 9±1 kBq m−3, 12%, 12.1 µBq kg−1 s−1 and 7.1 mBq m−2 s−1, respectively. Absorbed gamma dose rate in outdoor air and the corresponding effective dose rate from external exposure and excess lifetime cancer risk were estimated to evaluate radiological hazards for human population. The results revealed that the Kangal LBPP has caused a small increment in 226Ra concentration in the studied area. No influence was observed for 232Th and 40K.
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Natural Radioactivity radon exhalation rates and indoor radon concentration of some granite samples used as construction material in turkey
Radiation Protection Dosimetry, 2013Co-Authors: Ahmet ş Aykamis, Şeref Turhan, Aysun F Ugur, Umut N Baykan, Ahmet Mahmut KilicAbstract:It is very important to determine the levels of the Natural Radioactivity in construction materials and radon exhalation rate from these materials for assessing potential exposure risks for the residents. The present study deals with 22 different granite samples employed as decoration stones in constructions in Turkey. The Natural Radioactivity in granite samples was measured by gamma-ray spectrometry with an HPGe detector. The activity concentrations of (226)Ra, (232)Th and (40)K were found to be in the range of 10-187, 16-354 and 104-1630 Bq kg(-1), respectively. The radon surface exhalation rate and the radon mass exhalation rate estimated from the measured values of (226)Ra content and material properties varied from 1.3 to 24.8 Bq m(-2) h(-1) with a mean of 10.5±1.5 Bq m(-2) h(-1) and 0.03-0.64 Bq kg(-1) h(-1) with a mean of 0.27±0.04 Bq kg(-1) h(-1), respectively. Radon concentrations in the room caused from granite samples estimated using a mass balance equation varied from 23 to 461 Bq m(-3) with a mean of 196±27 Bq m(-3). Also the gamma index (Iγ), external indoor annual effective dose (Eγ) and annual effective dose due to the indoor radon exposure (ERn) were estimated as the average value of 1.1±0.1, 0.16±0.02 mSv and 5.0±0.7 mSv, respectively, for the granite samples.
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Measurement of the Natural Radioactivity in building materials used in Ankara and assessment of external doses
Journal of Radiological Protection, 2008Co-Authors: Şeref Turhan, U N BaykanAbstract:A total of 183 samples of 20 different commonly used structural and covering building materials were collected from housing and other building construction sites and from suppliers in Ankara to measure the Natural Radioactivity due to the presence of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K. The measurements were carried out using gamma-ray spectrometry with two HPGe detectors. The specific activities of the different building materials studied varied from 0.5 ± 0.1 to 144.9 ± 4.9 Bq kg−1, 0.6 ± 0.2 to 169.9 ± 6.6 Bq kg−1 and 2.0 ± 0.1 to 1792.3 ± 60.8 Bq kg−1 for 226Ra, 232Th and 40K, respectively. The results show that the lowest mean values of the specific activity of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K are 0.8 ± 0.5, 0.9 ± 0.4 and 4.1 ± 1.4 Bq kg−1, respectively, measured in travertine tile while the highest mean values of the specific activity of the same radionuclides are 78.5 ± 18.1 (ceramic wall tile), 77.4 ± 53.0 (granite tile) and 923.4 ± 161.0 (white brick), respectively. The radium equivalent activity (Raeq), the gamma-index, the indoor absorbed dose rate and the corresponding annual effective dose were evaluated to assess the potential radiological hazard associated with these building materials. The mean values of the gamma-index and the estimated annual effective dose due to external gamma radiation inside the room for structural building materials ranged from 0.15 to 0.89 and 0.2 to 1.1 mSv, respectively. Applying criteria recently recommended for building materials in the literature, four materials meet the exemption annual dose criterion of 0.3 mSv, five materials meet the annual dose limit of 1 mSv and only one material slightly exceeds this limit. The mean values of the gamma-index for all building materials were lower than the upper limit of 1.
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assessment of the Natural Radioactivity and radiological hazards in turkish cement and its raw materials
Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 2008Co-Authors: Şeref TurhanAbstract:Abstract The Natural Radioactivity due to presence of 226 Ra, 232 Th and 40 K radionuclides in raw materials, intermediate products (clinker) and end products (22 different cement types) was measured using a gamma-ray spectrometry with HPGe detector. The specific Radioactivity of 226 Ra, 232 Th and 40 K in the analyzed cement samples ranged from 12.5 ± 0.3 to 162.5 ± 1.7 Bq kg −1 with a mean of 40.5 ± 26.7 Bq kg −1 , 6.7 ± 0.3 to 124.9 ± 2.5 Bq kg −1 with a mean of 26.1 ± 18.9 Bq kg −1 and 64.4 ± 2.3 to 679.3 ± 18.2 Bq kg −1 with a mean of 267.1 ± 102.4 Bq kg −1 , respectively. The radium equivalent activity (Ra eq ), the gamma-index, the emanation coefficient, the 222 Rn mass exhalation rate and the indoor absorbed dose rate were estimated for the radiation hazard of the Natural Radioactivity in all samples. The calculated Ra eq values of cement samples (37.2 ± 8.7–331.1 ± 15.5 Bq kg −1 with a mean of 98.3 ± 53.8) are lower than the limit of 370 Bq kg −1 set for building materials. The Ra eq values were compared with the corresponding values for cement of different countries. The mean indoor absorbed dose rate is slightly higher than the population-weighted average of 84 nGy h −1 .
A Chandrasekaran - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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determination of Natural Radioactivity and the associated radiation hazards in building materials used in polur tiruvannamalai district tamilnadu india using gamma ray spectrometry with statistical approach
Journal of Geochemical Exploration, 2016Co-Authors: R Ravisankar, A Chandrasekaran, P Vijayagopal, Y Raghu, Suresh M Gandhi, B VenkatramanAbstract:Abstract The Natural Radioactivity in building materials collected from Polur, Tamilnadu has been determined using gamma ray spectrometer. The radiological parameters such as radium equivalent activity (Ra eq ), absorbed dose rate (D R ), annual effective dose rate (H R ), alpha index (I α ), gamma-index (I γ ), internal (H in ) and external hazard indices (H ex ) were evaluated to assess the radiation hazard for people dwelling in the study area. The calculated radiological parameters were taken for multivariate statistical analysis to study the relation between radionuclides and radiological parameters. The values obtained in the study are within the recommended safety limits, showing that these building materials do not pose any significant radiation hazard and hence the use of these materials in the construction for dwelling purpose can be considered to be safe for the inhabitants.
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assessment of Natural Radioactivity and function of minerals in soils of yelagiri hills tamilnadu india by gamma ray spectroscopic and fourier transform infrared ftir techniques with statistical approach
Spectrochimica Acta Part A: Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy, 2015Co-Authors: A Chandrasekaran, R Ravisankar, P Vijayagopal, P Eswaran, A Rajalakshmi, B VenkatramanAbstract:Abstract Gamma Ray and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic techniques were used to evaluate the Natural Radioactivity due to Natural radionuclides and mineralogical characterization in soils of Yelagiri hills, Tamilnadu, India. Various radiological parameters were calculated to assess the radiation hazards associated with the soil. The distribution pattern of activity due to Natural radionuclides is explained by Kriging method of mapping. Using FTIR spectroscopic technique the minerals such as quartz, microcline feldspar, orthoclase feldspar, kaolinite, montmorillonite, illite, and organic carbon were identified and characterized. The extinction coefficient values were calculated to know the relative distribution of major minerals such as quartz, microcline feldspar, orthoclase feldspar and kaolinite. The calculated values indicate that the amount of quartz is higher than orthoclase feldspar, microcline feldspar and much higher than kaolinite. Crystallinity index was calculated to know the crystalline nature of quartz. The result indicates that the presence of disordered crystalline quartz in soils. The relation between minerals and Radioactivity was assessed by multivariate statistical analysis (Pearson’s correlation and cluster analysis). The statistical analysis confirms that the clay mineral kaolinite and non-clay mineral quartz is the major factor than other major minerals to induce the important Radioactivity variables and concentrations of uranium and thorium.
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Natural Radioactivity in soil samples of yelagiri hills tamil nadu india and the associated radiation hazards
Radiation Physics and Chemistry, 2012Co-Authors: R Ravisankar, A Chandrasekaran, P Vijayagopal, B Venkatraman, G Senthilkumar, P Eswaran, A RajalakshmiAbstract:The Natural Radioactivity of soils at Yelagiri hills has been studied in this paper. The radioactivities of 25 samples have been measured with a NaI(Tl) detector. The Radioactivity concentrations of 238U, 232Th and 40K ranged from ≤2.17 to 53.23, 13.54 to 89.89 and from 625.09 to 2207.3 Bq kg−1, respectively. The measured activity concentrations for these radionuclides were compared with world average activity of soil. The average activity concentration of 232Th in the present study is 1.19 times higher than world median value while the activity of 238U and 40K is found to be lower. In order to evaluate the radiological hazard of the Natural Radioactivity, the radium equivalent activity Raeq, the absorbed dose rate DR, the annual effective dose rate and the external hazard index (Hex) have been calculated and compared with the internationally approved values. The study provides background Radioactivity concentrations in Yelagiri hills.
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measurement of Natural Radioactivity in building materials of namakkal tamil nadu india using gamma ray spectrometry
Applied Radiation and Isotopes, 2012Co-Authors: R Ravisankar, A Chandrasekaran, P Vijayagopal, A Rajalakshmi, K Vanasundari, M Suganya, V MeenakshisundaramAbstract:The Natural level of Radioactivity in building materials is one of the major causes of external exposure to γ-rays. The primordial radionuclides in building materials are one of the sources of radiation hazard in dwellings made of these materials. By the determination of the Radioactivity level in building materials, the indoor radiological hazard to human health can be assessed. This is an important precautionary measure whenever the dose rate is found to be above the recommended limits. The aim of this work was to measure the specific activity concentration of (226)Ra, (232)Th and (40)K in commonly used building materials from Namakkal, Tamil Nadu, India, using gamma-ray spectrometer. The radiation hazard due to the total Natural Radioactivity in the studied building materials was estimated by different approaches. The concentrations of the Natural radionuclides and the radium equivalent activity in studied samples were compared with the corresponding results of different countries. From the analysis, it is found that these materials may be safely used as construction materials and do not pose significant radiation hazards.
B Venkatraman - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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determination of Natural Radioactivity and the associated radiation hazards in building materials used in polur tiruvannamalai district tamilnadu india using gamma ray spectrometry with statistical approach
Journal of Geochemical Exploration, 2016Co-Authors: R Ravisankar, A Chandrasekaran, P Vijayagopal, Y Raghu, Suresh M Gandhi, B VenkatramanAbstract:Abstract The Natural Radioactivity in building materials collected from Polur, Tamilnadu has been determined using gamma ray spectrometer. The radiological parameters such as radium equivalent activity (Ra eq ), absorbed dose rate (D R ), annual effective dose rate (H R ), alpha index (I α ), gamma-index (I γ ), internal (H in ) and external hazard indices (H ex ) were evaluated to assess the radiation hazard for people dwelling in the study area. The calculated radiological parameters were taken for multivariate statistical analysis to study the relation between radionuclides and radiological parameters. The values obtained in the study are within the recommended safety limits, showing that these building materials do not pose any significant radiation hazard and hence the use of these materials in the construction for dwelling purpose can be considered to be safe for the inhabitants.
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assessment of Natural Radioactivity and function of minerals in soils of yelagiri hills tamilnadu india by gamma ray spectroscopic and fourier transform infrared ftir techniques with statistical approach
Spectrochimica Acta Part A: Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy, 2015Co-Authors: A Chandrasekaran, R Ravisankar, P Vijayagopal, P Eswaran, A Rajalakshmi, B VenkatramanAbstract:Abstract Gamma Ray and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic techniques were used to evaluate the Natural Radioactivity due to Natural radionuclides and mineralogical characterization in soils of Yelagiri hills, Tamilnadu, India. Various radiological parameters were calculated to assess the radiation hazards associated with the soil. The distribution pattern of activity due to Natural radionuclides is explained by Kriging method of mapping. Using FTIR spectroscopic technique the minerals such as quartz, microcline feldspar, orthoclase feldspar, kaolinite, montmorillonite, illite, and organic carbon were identified and characterized. The extinction coefficient values were calculated to know the relative distribution of major minerals such as quartz, microcline feldspar, orthoclase feldspar and kaolinite. The calculated values indicate that the amount of quartz is higher than orthoclase feldspar, microcline feldspar and much higher than kaolinite. Crystallinity index was calculated to know the crystalline nature of quartz. The result indicates that the presence of disordered crystalline quartz in soils. The relation between minerals and Radioactivity was assessed by multivariate statistical analysis (Pearson’s correlation and cluster analysis). The statistical analysis confirms that the clay mineral kaolinite and non-clay mineral quartz is the major factor than other major minerals to induce the important Radioactivity variables and concentrations of uranium and thorium.
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Natural Radioactivity in soil samples of yelagiri hills tamil nadu india and the associated radiation hazards
Radiation Physics and Chemistry, 2012Co-Authors: R Ravisankar, A Chandrasekaran, P Vijayagopal, B Venkatraman, G Senthilkumar, P Eswaran, A RajalakshmiAbstract:The Natural Radioactivity of soils at Yelagiri hills has been studied in this paper. The radioactivities of 25 samples have been measured with a NaI(Tl) detector. The Radioactivity concentrations of 238U, 232Th and 40K ranged from ≤2.17 to 53.23, 13.54 to 89.89 and from 625.09 to 2207.3 Bq kg−1, respectively. The measured activity concentrations for these radionuclides were compared with world average activity of soil. The average activity concentration of 232Th in the present study is 1.19 times higher than world median value while the activity of 238U and 40K is found to be lower. In order to evaluate the radiological hazard of the Natural Radioactivity, the radium equivalent activity Raeq, the absorbed dose rate DR, the annual effective dose rate and the external hazard index (Hex) have been calculated and compared with the internationally approved values. The study provides background Radioactivity concentrations in Yelagiri hills.
R G Sonkawade - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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measurement of Natural Radioactivity and radon exhalation rate in fly ash samples from a thermal power plant and estimation of radiation doses
Radiation Measurements, 2013Co-Authors: Rajendra Prasad, R G Sonkawade, Mamta Gupta, A K Mahur, Rati Varshney, K D VermaAbstract:Abstract Fly ash produced by coal-burning in thermal power station has become a subject of world wide interest in recent years because of its diverse uses in construction activities and considerable economic and environmental importance. Fly ash is used in the production of bricks, sheets, cement and also in land filling etc. Indian coals used in thermal power plants are found to have high ash contents, resulting in the production of large amount of fly ash. Coal contains radionuclides including uranium (the source of inert gas radon), Th and K. Thus coal combustion results in enhanced concentration of Natural radionuclides 226 Ra, 232 Th and 40 K. Since these radionuclides concentration in fly ash plays an important role in health physics it is important to measure radionuclides concentration in fly ash. In the present work enhanced Radioactivity and radon exhalation rate from fly ash samples collected from a thermal power plant of NTPC (National Thermal Power Corporation), Dadri (U.P.) India, have been measured. A high resolution gamma ray spectroscopic system has been used for the measurement of Natural Radioactivity ( 226 Ra, 232 Th and 40 K). Gamma spectrometric measurements were carried out at Inter-University Accelerator Centre, New Delhi using a coaxial n-type HPGe detector (EG&G, ORTEC, Oak Ridge, USA). Activity concentration of 226 Ra varies from 81.8 ± 2.2 to 177.3 ± 10.0 Bq kg −1 with an average value of 118.6 ± 7.4 Bq kg −1 and of 232 Th from 111.6 ± 3.2 to 178.5 ± 3.9 Bq kg −1 with an average value of 147.0 ± 3.4 Bq kg −1 . 40 K activity was found to be below detection limit in some samples while other samples have shown potassium activity to vary from 365.9 ± 4.8 to 495.9 ± 6.2 Bq kg −1 with an average value of 352.0 ± 4.5 Bq kg −1 . Surface radon exhalation rates ( E A ) and Mass exhalation rates ( E M ) in these samples were measured by “Sealed can technique” using LR-115 type II track detectors. E A is found to vary from 80.1 ± 9.3 to 242.7 ± 16.3 mBq m −2 h −1 with an average value 155.5 ± 12.8 mBq m −2 h −1 , while E M varies from 3.1 ± 0.4 to 9.3 ± 0.6 mBq kg −1 h −1 with an average value of 6.0 ± 0.5 mBq kg −1 h −1 . Radium equivalent activity ( Ra eq ), related to the external gamma dose and internal dose due to radon and its daughters range from 283.2 to 422.4 Bq kg −1 with an average value of 353.9 Bq kg −1 . The calculated values of external hazard index ( H ex ) vary from 0.77 to 1.87 with an average value of 1.03. Most of the samples show the value of Ra eq close to the allowed upper limit of 370 Bq kg −1 and H ex close to unity respectively except in two samples. Annual effective dose varies from 0.15 to 0.23 mSv y −1 with an average value 0.19 mSv y −1 .
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comparative study of Natural Radioactivity levels in soil samples from the upper siwaliks and punjab india using gamma ray spectrometry
Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 2009Co-Authors: Joga Singh, B S Bajwa, Harmanjit Singh, Surinder Singh, R G SonkawadeAbstract:Natural radioactive materials under certain conditions can reach hazardous radiological levels. So, it becomes necessary to study the Natural Radioactivity levels in soil to assess the dose for the population in order to know the health risks and to have a baseline for future changes in the environmental Radioactivity due to human activities. The Natural radionuclide (226Ra, 232Th, and 40K) contents in soil were determined for 26 locations around the Upper Siwaliks of Kala Amb, Nahan and Morni Hills, Northern India, using high-resolution gamma-ray spectrometric analysis. It was observed that the concentration of Natural radionuclides viz., 226Ra, 232Th and 40K, in the soil varies from 28.3+/-0.5 to 81.0+/-1.7Bqkg(-1), 61.2+/-1.3 to 140.3+/-2.6Bqkg(-1) and 363.4+/-4.9 to 1002.2+/-11.2Bqkg(-1) respectively. The total absorbed dose rate calculated from activity concentration of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K ranged from 71.1 to 162.0nGyh(-1). The radium equivalent (Req) and the external hazard index (Hex), which resulted from the Natural radionuclides in soil, were also calculated and found to vary from 149.4 to 351.8Bqkg(-1)and from 0.40 to 0.95 respectively. These values in Upper Siwaliks area were compared with that from the adjoining areas of Punjab. The radium equivalent activities in all the soil samples were lower than the limit (370Bqkg(-1)) set in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) report and the dose equivalent was within the safe limit of 1mSvy(-1).
