Studies of natural radionuclides and dose estimation from soil samples of Kumaun Himalaya, India

Phosphogysum (PG) or agricultural gypsum, a solid waste from the phosphate fertilizer industry, is used as soil amendment, especially on soils in the Cerrado region, in Brazil. This material may however contain natural radionuclides and metals which can be transferred to soils, plants and water sources. This paper presents and discusses the results of physical and chemical analyses that characterized samples of PG and compares them to the results found in two typical soils of the Cerrado, a clayey and sandy one. These analyses included: solid waste classification, evaluation of organic matter content and of P, K, Ca, Mg, and Al concentrations and of the mineralogical composition. Natural radionuclides and metal concentrations in PG and soil samples were also measured. Phosphogypsum was classified as Class II A - Not Dangerous, Not Inert, Not Corrosive and Not Reactive. The organic matter content in the soil samples was low and potential acidity high. In the mean, the specific 226Ra activity in the phosphogypsum samples (252 Bq kg-1) was below the maximum level recommended by USEPA, which is 370 Bq kg-1 for agricultural use. In addition, this study verified that natural radionuclides and metals concentrations in PG were lower than in the clayey Oxisol of Sete Lagoas, Minas Gerais, Brazil. These results indicated that the application of phosphogypsum as soil amendment in agriculture would not cause a significant impact on the environment.

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Assessment of Natural Radioactivity Levels and Radiation Hazards for Soil Samples Used in Erbil Governorate, Iraqi Kurdistan

ARO-The Scientific Journal of Koya University ◽

10.14500/aro.10471 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

pp. 34 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Zakariya A. Hussein

Keyword(s):

Natural Radioactivity ◽

Gamma Spectroscopy ◽

Health Hazard ◽

Natural Radionuclides ◽

Soil Samples ◽

Radiation Hazard ◽

Lifetime Cancer Risk ◽

Iraqi Kurdistan ◽

Activity Concentrations ◽

Radium Equivalent

In this work, the activity concentrations of natural radionuclides 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in soil samples from Erbil governorate, Iraqi Kurdistan were investigated by a gamma-spectroscopy system based on high-purity germanium (HPGe) detector. This is to assess the dose of radionuclides exposure to the population, knowing the health risks and to have a baseline for future changes in the environmental radioactivity. It was found that the activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K were ranged from (14.6 ± 1.6 to 38.2 ± 2.8 Bq.kg-1), (4.5 ± 1.4 to 52.4 ± 5.8 Bq.kg-1) and ( 302.8 ± 12.6 to 388.6 ± 12.8 Bq.kg-1), respectively. The measured activity concentrations for these radionuclides were compared with the reported data of other countries and with the worldwide average activity of soil. Radium equivalent activities, absorbed dose rate, excess lifetime cancer risk and the values of hazard indices were calculated for the measured samples to assess the radiation hazard of the natural radioactivity in all samples to the people. It was concluded that the radium equivalent activities of the studied samples are below the internationally accepted values. These results show that annual effective dose absorbed via occupant from activity construction of soil samples used in the under place is below 1.0 mSv.y-1. It is concluded that the assessment radioactivity of soil are within acceptable levels and does not pose any health hazard to the population.

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Assessment of the radiological situation in different areas affected by uranium mining and uranium processing in the Czech Republic

Nuclear Technology and Radiation Protection ◽

10.2298/ntrp2102139h ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 36 (2) ◽

pp. 139-149

Author(s):

Renata Havrankova ◽

Eva Simackova ◽

Friedo Zolzer ◽

Jiri Havranek ◽

Zuzana Freitinger-Skalicka

Keyword(s):

Czech Republic ◽

Natural Radionuclides ◽

Soil Samples ◽

Dose Equivalent ◽

Average Value ◽

Activity Concentrations ◽

Sampling Locations ◽

Equivalent Rate ◽

Measurement Results ◽

Water And Soil Samples

This study presents measurements of activity concentrations of natural radionuclides in selected water and soil samples taken from areas affected by the uranium industry in the surroundings of Pribram, Straz pod Ralskem and Mydlovary, Czech Republic. In these areas, the dose equivalent rate was also determined at the sampling locations and additionally also during walkabouts in the surroundings of sludge fields. The activity concentration of water samples was 0.06 ? 0.02 BqL?1 for 226Ra and 0.07 ? 0.07 mgL?1 for 238U while the mean activity concentrations of soil samples were 74 ? 70 Bqkg?1 and 80 ? 77 Bqkg?1 for 226Ra and 238U, respectively. The average value of the dose equivalent rate was of 0.15 ? 0.1 ?Svh?1. These values conform with the nature of the industrial activities which were carried out in the areas and are comparable with measurement results in similar locations worldwide.

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Estimation of radioecological parameters of soil samples from a phosphatic area

Nuclear Technology and Radiation Protection ◽

10.2298/ntrp1602165h ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 31 (2) ◽

pp. 165-172 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Shaaban Harb ◽

Noor Ahmed ◽

Wael Badawy ◽

Nagwa Saad

Keyword(s):

Dose Rate ◽

Annual Effective Dose ◽

Natural Radionuclides ◽

Significant Risk ◽

Absorbed Dose ◽

Soil Samples ◽

Absorbed Dose Rate ◽

Activity Concentrations ◽

Average Activity ◽

Range Of Values

The activity concentrations of natural radionuclides (226Ra, 232Th, and 40K) for a set of 31 agricultural soil samples from the Nile River banks in the area of El-Sebaiya city, Aswan Governorate, Egypt were measured by gamma-spectrometry. The study revealed that the average activity concentrations of natural radionuclides 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K were 23.2 ? 2.8Bq/kg, 21.1 ? 2.8 Bq/kg, and 218.6 ? 3.7 Bq/kg, respectively. The obtained results of the activity concentrations are within the range of values reported for neighbouring areas in Egypt. The values obtained for the hazard indices and the representative level index in all sampling sites were lower than unity, showing that there is no significant risk arising from the exposure to the soil in the studied area. The absorbed dose rate and annual effective dose in air outdoors and indoors were calculated from 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K in soil, the average values being 32.64 nGy/h, 40.06 ?Sv, and 160.25 ?Sv, respectively. The absorbed dose rate at the eastof El-Sebaiya city is higher than that obtained for the west because of higher concentrations of tri-calcium phosphate in the soil. The studied area is not significantly affected by the industrial activities, except for a few isolated spots.

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