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Radioactivity concentrations and heavy metal content were measured in soil samples collected from the area of Kragujevac, one of the largest cities in Serbia. The specific activities of (226)Ra, (232)Th, (40)K and (137)Cs in 30 samples were measured by gamma spectrometry using an HPGe semiconductor detector. The average values ± standard deviations were 33.5 ± 8.2, 50.3 ± 10.6, 425.8 ± 75.7 and 40.2 ± 26.3 Bq kg(-1), respectively. The activity concentrations of (226)Ra, (232)Th and (137)Cs have shown normal distribution. The annual effective doses, radium equivalent activities, external hazard indexes and excess lifetime cancer risk were also estimated. A RAD7 device was used for measuring radon exhalation rates from several samples with highest content of (226)Ra. The concentrations of As, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn were measured, as well as their EDTA extractable concentrations. Wide ranges of values were obtained, especially for Cr, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn. The absence of normal distribution indicates anthropogenic origin of Cr, Ni, Pb and Zn. Correlations between radionuclide activities, heavy metal contents and physicochemical properties of analysed soil were determined by Spearman correlation coefficient. Strong positive correlation between (226)Ra and (232)Th was found.

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This paper reports the results of radioactivity concentrations and heavy metal content in soil samples collected from non-agricultural areas in the municipality and vicinity of North Kosovska Mitrovica, formerly the most important mining area in Europe. The estimated average activity concentrations of (226)Ra, (232)Th, (40)K and (137)Cs are 40.6 ± 19, 48 ± 25.4, 743.2 ± 200.5 and 81 ± 119 Bq kg(-1), respectively. The estimated average absorbed dose rate in the air and the annual effective dose are 78.7 nGy h(-1) and 96.6 μSv, respectively. The radium equivalent activity and external hazard index were also calculated. High contents of Pb, Zn, Cu, Cd, As and Ni were found in the analyzed soil samples, thus indicating pollution of the environment. Most metals have a wide range of values spanning 2 to 3 orders of magnitude, which is particularly evident for Pb and Zn. Correlations between the activity concentrations of the radionuclides, the heavy metal content in soil and the basic soil properties were determined by means of the Pearson linear coefficient. Strong positive correlations between the naturally occurring radionuclides, and also among Pb, Zn, Cu and Cd were found.

This paper presents indoor radon concentrations and specific activities of natural radionuclides measured in soils of Kosovo and Metohija. The measurements of radon concentration were performed during two consecutive 6-month periods in two rooms of 63 houses using CR-39 detectors. The annual radon concentration ranged from 30 to 810 Bq m with the average value of 128 Bq m. Almost 15% of the houses had radon concentration higher than 200 Bq m. The difference between radon concentrations measured in the two 6-month periods was analyzed, showing, as expected, a slightly higher radon concentration in the "winter period" than in the "summer period". The variation between different rooms of the same houses was also analyzed, showing that 20% of the dwellings had a significantly higher radon concentration (>100 Bq m) in one room compared to the other (the coefficient of variation ranged up to 96%). The specific activities of natural radionuclides in the nearby soil were determined by gamma spectrometry. The estimated average value (and standard deviation) of Ra,Th, and K specific activities were 32 (13), 35 (16), and 582 (159) Bq kg, respectively. The correlation between indoor Rn andRa content in soil was investigated. Only a weak correlation was found (Spearman's rho = 0.220) indicating that other factors might affect diffusion and accumulation of radon indoors, as confirmed also by the high variability between the rooms of the same houses.