Natural radionuclides in soil near a coal-fired power plant in the high background radiation area, South China

In this study, soil samples around Mawan coal-fired power plant (CFPP) in Shenzhen, a high background radiation area in South China, were analyzed for natural radionuclides. The activity concentration of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K in soils around Mawan CFPP ranged from approximately 72 to 358 Bq kg(-1) (averaged 204 Bq kg(-1)), 118 to 432 Bq kg(-1) (averaged 265 Bq kg(-1)), and 101 to 2168 Bq kg(-1) (averaged 1269 Bq kg(-1)), respectively, being found to be significantly higher than the world range values. The levels of these radionuclides in soil largely decreased with increasing distance from the CFPP, indicating a technologically enhanced natural radiation near the CFPP. The Raeq values for the soil samples around Mawan CFPP ranged from 346 to 878 Bq kg(-1), most of which exceeded the allowed maximum Raeq value of 370 Bq kg(-1). The operating of CFPP has increased the total radioactive dose received for the nearby population.