The activity concentration of (226)Ra, (232)Th and (40)K was measured for soil samples collected from 34 locations of Tumkur District, Karnataka, India, using HPGe detector. The activity concentration of (226)Ra, (232)Th and (40)K varied from 9.6 to 71.6, 12.3 to 333.3 and 194.3 to 1527.7 Bq kg(-1) with an average value of 33.15, 123.01 and 877.76 Bq kg(-1), respectively. The absorbed and annual effective outdoor doses were found to be highest at Ponnasamudra with 258.98 nGy h(-1) and 317.62 μSv and lowest at Sira with 36.42 nGy h(-1) and 44.67 μSv, respectively. The external hazard index ranged from 0.21 to 1.58 with an average of 0.75. It was significant in 11 locations as it exceeded unity.
1. INTRODUCTION Water is an imperative natural resource on the earth. Approximately 71% of the earth's floor is protected with water. Fresh water is located as underground water in massive reservoirs surrounded by means of rock referred to as aquifers and surface water. It's a vital and essential element for survival of all the living beings. There is a devastating call for pure water due to the fact the groundwater and surface water are highly polluted due to urbanization and industrialization. Out of the total quantity of worldwide water, only 2. 4% is distributed on the main land, of which best a small component may be utilized as clean water. Ground water is the principal supply of drinking water in each rural and urban parts of India. Ground water is a susceptible electrolyte containing numerous elements and their associated radicals in ionic equilibrium. The fundamental cations are calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium. The primary anions are carbonates, nitrate, bicarbonates, chlorides and sulphates. The opposite parameters decided are general dissolved solids, general hardness, PH, iron and radon, a natural radioactive gas. The 222 Rn is a obviously happening radioactive noble gas in the surroundings formed by radioactive decay of 226 Ra. It undergoes radioactive decay with the aid of emission of alpha particles with a feature half-life 2.82days. It decays by emission of alpha particle to form radon decay mechanism, which can be divided into quick-lived and long-lived progeny species. Radon is soluble in water and its solubility decreases with increase in temperature. The excessive degree of radon in groundwater results from radium affords within the rocks through which groundwater flows. Consequently, the high concentration of uranium in the surrounding rocks is the sources of high radon in groundwater [1]. Radon concentration ground water is affected by several factors, such as presence of shear zones, degree of metamorphism, soil porosity and uranium mineralization [2-4]. Radon dissolved in water can cause radiation exposure via inhalation and ingestion. The organ at maximum threat from radon dissolved in water is belly. While radon or its progeny are inhaled, lung cancer for most of the overall incremental cancer danger, even as ingestion of radon in water is suspected of being related to increased danger of tumors of several inner organs, typically the stomach [5-6]. The ability fitness dangers associated with radon and other certainly occurring radioactive factors present in water have extended in relevance in latest years. This is due to the attention directed toward the very excessive radiation doses which babies and youngsters can get hold of because of consumption of water containing radon and radon decay merchandise [7-9]. The modifications in high-quality of groundwater response to variant in physical, chemical and biological environments through which it passes [10]. Groundwater resource in the observe vicinity is extensively exploited for irrigation and other domestic purposes similarly t...
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