Development of an appropriate method for measuring gross alpha activity concentration in low-mass size-fractionated samples of sediment using solid-state nuclear track detectors

A passive technique using solid state nuclear track detectors was developed to detect the low-level gross alpha activity (A(alpha)) in low-mass size-fractionated (< 10 g) samples of urban surface deposited sediment. The measurement system was calibrated using a source containing thorium monazite. The method was applied to measure radioactivity of the samples collected from various urban landscape zones in Ekaterinburg, Russia. The correlation between A(alpha), gross beta activity (A(beta)) and potential harmful elements (PHE) concentrations was studied. It was found that the migration of natural radionuclides and PHE in the urban environment is associated with the same environmental processes.