Determination of naturally occurring radionuclides in selected rocks from Hetaunda area, central Nepal

The specific activities of the naturally occurring radionuclides U-238, Th-232, and K-40 were measured in rock samples from the Hetaunda area, central Nepal, using gamma spectrometry. The specific activities were found to be in the range of 17-95 Bq kg(-1) for U-238, 24-260 Bq kg(-1) for Th-232 and 32-541 Bq kg(-1) for K-40. From these data absorbed dose rates in air and annual effective doses were calculated and compared with respective data from the UNSCEAR compilation. The results from our study open the door to the safe applicability of most of the investigated materials as a cheep building material.