137Cs ANALYSIS IN CULTIVATED SOIL AND UNCULTIVATED SOIL SAMPLES FROM CITIES SKOPJE- MACEDONIA, USING GAMMA RAY SPECTROMETRY

Abstract

The goal of this study was focused on determination of the specific activity of 137 Cs in the samples of cultivated and uncultivated soil, as well as comparison with specific countries. The samples were taken from 14 locations in the surrounding of the city of Skopje. The spectral analysis of the radionuclides of these samples was conducted by applying a γ-ray spectrometer with high purity germanium (HPGe) detector with 30% relative efficiency. The data show that the specific activities of this radionuclide vary within a range of 6,04 Bq/kg (measured in Dracevo at a depth of 15 cm) to a maximal value of 21,87 Bq/kg (measured in Radisani at a depth of 5 cm) for cultivated land. The specific activities of this radionuclide vary within a range of 5,01 Bq/kg (measured in Radisani at a depth of 10-15 cm) to a maximal value of 19,05 Bq/kg (measured in Bardovci at a depth of 0-5 cm) for non-cultivated land. On the basis of the obtained results, an expressed variability is perceived regarding the specific activities of 137 Cs in the examined soil samples according to location and depth. The very research indicates that in both types of soil, the highest level of 137 Cs exists at a depth of 5 cm which is in accordance with the literature data. In the examined locations there is no need of special procedures for soil decontamination, however the familiarization with the methods related to the decrease of the radiological activity can be beneficial considering the fact that the soil is a part of the link soil-food-human.