Estimation of natural radioactivity and assessment of radiation hazard indices in soil samples of Uttara Kannada district, Karnataka, India

The prime objective of this study is to estimate the natural radioactivity and their associated radiological hazards in soil samples of Uttara Kannada district having different geological conditions. The Ra-226, Th-232 and K-40 activities were estimated using HPGe detector based gamma ray spectrometer. The average Ra-226, Th-232 and K-40 activity concentrations are 36.13 +/- 0.96, 48.47 +/- 1.26 and 415.76 +/- 6.83 Bq kg(-1) respectively. The mean annual effective dose equivalent value was found to be 0.40 mSv y(-1) and is less than the ICRP proposed value of 1 mSv y(-1). The radiological hazard indices were computed and compared with internationally agreed values.

Automated summary

The prime objective of this study was to estimate the natural radioactivity and associated radiological hazards in soil samples from Uttara Kannada district with different geological conditions. The activity concentrations of Ra-226, Th-232, and K-40 were measured using an HPGe detector-based gamma ray spectrometer. The average activity concentrations of Ra-226, Th-232, and K-40 were found to be 36.13 +/- 0.96, 48.47 +/- 1.26, and 415.76 +/- 6.83 Bq kg(-1) respectively. The mean annual effective dose equivalent value was 0.40 mSv y(-1), which is below the proposed limit of 1 mSv y(-1) by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP). Radiological hazard indices were calculated and compared with internationally agreed values.