Natural radioactivity study in soil samples of South Konkan, Maharashtra, India

S. J. Dhawal, M. R. Phadatare, N. D. Thorat, G. S. Kulkarni, S. H. Pawar

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

This study assesses the level of natural radioactivity due to radionuclides, 238U, 232Th and 40K, in 50 soil samples collected from South Konkan, Maharashtra, India. The mean activity concentrations of 238U, 232Th and 40K are 44.97±1.22 Bq kg-1, 59.70±2.17 Bq kg-1 and 217.51±8.75 Bq kg-1, respectively, measured from all the soil samples studied. The good correlation between activity concentration of U-238 and Th-232; U-238 and K-40 as well as between activity concentration of Th-232 and K-40 was observed. The average calculated absorbed dose rate in air (68.08 nGy h-1) was found to be higher than the world average of 57 nGy h-1(UNSCEAR 2000). Radium equivalent activity for all the villages was found to be lower than the worldwide value. The values of external hazard index and internal hazard index determined from all the soil samples were found to be within recommended limit. The calculated average annual effective dose was found to be 0.42 mSv y-1, and it is lower than the worldwide value of 0.46 mSv y-1.The annual effective dose values calculated from present study were comparable with previous studies carried out in other countries and in India. The data established from the study can be useful as baseline information on natural radioactivity in South Konkan, Maharashtra, India.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbernct131
Pages (from-to)225-233
Number of pages9
JournalRadiation Protection Dosimetry
Volume157
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2013
Externally publishedYes

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