Assessment of natural radioactivity levels and associated dose rates in soil samples from historical city Panipat, India

Abstract

The natural radioactivity levels have been determined by means of gamma ray spectroscopy in surface soil samples collected from the historical city Panipat and its surrounding areas. The activity concentrations are estimated for 238 U (range from 14.82 ± 0.26 to 42.82 ± 0.84 Bq/kg), 232 Th (from 12.94 ± 0.32 to 43.48 ± 0.96 Bq/kg) and 40 K (from 238.05 ± 0.28 to 348.50 ± 0.95 Bq/kg). Radium equivalent activities are calculated to be in the range of 82.24e108.49 Bq/kg with an average value of 92.21 Bq/kg. Absorbed dose rates in air outdoors are measured in the range of 32.01e56.47 nGy/h with an average value of 44.16 nGy/h. The corresponding effective dose rates (indoor and outdoor) are calculated to be in the range of 0.09e0.158 mSv/y and 0.039e0.069 mSv/y respectively. The internal and external hazard index varies from 0.234 to 0.339 and 0.207 to 0.286 respectively. The activities of radium equivalent in all the soil samples are lesser than the limit (370 Bq/kg) recommended in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) report and the annual effective dose was within the safe limit of 1 mSv/y.

Radionuclides proportion and radiological risk assessment of soil samples collected in Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State Nigeria

“…The average value of the AED was observed to be higher than the world recommended safe limit of 0.07 mSv/y by an approximate factor of 2. The result of AED in the present study agreed with Zhang [ 1 ], while it is much lower than what was obtained in Amanjeet et al [ 27 ].…”

“…Although, the value of Hex at Sport 17 is far higher than the recommended standard of unity but a sample point in a collection of sample points may not be sufficient to expose residents to radiological hazard emanating from the environment. The result of H ex in the present study agreed with Korkmaz et al [ 7 ] but higher than the results of Amanjeet et al [ 27 ]. The results of ELCR for the studied soil samples ranged between 0.28 × 10 −3 and 1.60 × 10 −3 with an average value of 0.47 × 10 −3 .…”

“…The result of the activity concentrations of 238 U and 232 Th in the present study are higher than the result obtained in Dizman et al [ 3 ] and Usikalu et al (2017), while the activity level of 40 K, in the current research, is far lower than the result of the previous study. Furthermore, the activity concentration of 238U in Amanjeet et al [ 27 ] corresponds with the activity levels of 238 U in the present study while the concentration levels of 232 Th and 40 K in the previous study were far higher than the present study. The variations observed in the results of the present study could be as a result of the differences in the local geology and mineralogical composition of the study area when compared to other regional geology.…”

Assessment of Radon and Thoron exhalation rate from soil of historical city Panipat, India

“…Indoor radon and indoor thoron concentration depends upon the activity of uranium and thorium in the building material and water. Uranium and thorium concentration in this region has been reported 18 . Uranium and thorium concentration in this region is within the safe limits and some village uranium and thorium concentration is high.…”

Assessment of Radiological Hazard Indices in Abu Rusheid area, South Eastern Desert, Egypt, Using Gamma Ray Spectroscopy

“…Gamma ray surveys are used in geological, geochemical and environmental mapping for mineral exploration, Natural radioactive elements such as uranium, thorium can be found everywhere in the world [1]. Natural radioactive materials such as uranium and thorium chains in addition to potassium are found in different percentages in soil, water, animal, human, oil and phosphate [2,3]. The variation in radionuclides concentrations of soil depends on the mineralogical composition, chemical composition, and physical properties [4].…”