Natural radioactivity is a public health issue that affects people all around the world. Environmental radioactivity accounts for approximately 87% of the radiation dose received by human beings. The primary external source of irradiation to the human body is gamma radiation emitted by naturally occurring radioisotopes such as 40K and radionuclides from the 232Th and 238U families, as well as their decay products, which exist at trace amounts in all ground formations. The establishment of baseline data for environmental radiological studies is of great importance for the assessment of environmental radiological levels in Uzbekistan and related studies on human health risks. The current study aimed to describe the research state of the art on natural radioactivity in Uzbekistan with emphasis on results obtained during the last 20 years. NaI (Tl) and High Purity Germanium HPGe detectors were employed in most conducted studies. The results showed that data for natural radionuclide activity were below international standards in all but a few areas. The research results of this paper can play a good guidance and reference role in the planning of such research in the future.
Reservoirs and artificial channels are vital sources of water for irrigated areas in arid and semi-arid regions. As such, monitoring the radioecological state of these water bodies is crucial for public health and safety. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the radioecological condition of the Sobirsoy reservoir and surrounding areas. We used gamma-spectrometry to measure natural and anthropogenic radionuclides, and coal sorbents to measure radon flux density on the ground surface. Based on our findings, we conducted a radiological risk assessment and compiled an exposure dose map of the study area. The results showed that the degree of radioactive danger to people in populated areas is within safe limits. Overall, our study provides important information for policymakers and stakeholders to make informed decisions regarding the management and safety of the Sobirsoy reservoir and its surroundings.
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