Measurement of natural radioactivity in several sandy-loamy soil samples from Sijua, Dhanbad, India

• Main Authors: M. Zubair, Shafiqullah
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2020-03-01
• Series: Heliyon
• Subjects: Earth sciences; Environmental science; Atmospheric science; Geochemistry; Geology; Geophysics
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844020302759

The activity concentrations of natural radionuclides 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in soil samples collected from Sijua Dhanbad, India were measured by using a gamma-ray spectrometer with a NaI(Tl) detector. The average activity concentration of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K was found as 60.3, 64.5 and 481.0 Bq. kg−1, respectively. Average radium equivalent activity, absorbed dose rate, outdoor dose, external hazard index and internal hazard index for the area under study is determined as 189.5 Bq. kg−1, 87.2 nGy h−1, 0.4, 0.5 and 0.6 mSv. y−1, respectively. The annual effective dose to the general public is found 0.4 mSv. y−1. This value lies well below the limit of 1 mSv. y−1. Measured values have found safe for the environment and public health of the study area.