Estimation of Activity Concentration of Uranium and Thorium Using Gross Alpha and Gross Beta in Agricultural Soils in Kanyakumari District

Abstract

Natural radioactivity originates from extraterrestrial sources. Radioactivity concentration is one of the main determinants of the natural background radiation. In this study the radioactivity concentrations of different agricultural soil samples were determined the gross alpha and gross beta activity concentrations were measured by using an alpha counter and low beta counter. The gross alpha and beta activity were ranged from 585.73Bq/kg to BDL and 2570.703Bq/kg to142.82Bq/kg .The gross alpha activity maximum at Arasamoodu Spinach soil (585.73Bq/kg) while it s minimum at Thotiyodu spinach soil (BDL) and The gross beta activity maximum at Arasamoodu Spinach agricultural farms (2570.703Bq/kg) while it s minimum at Arasamoodu Coconut agricultural farms (142.82Bq/kg). The Thorium and Uranium concentration were also calculated by using gross alpha and gross beta activities.