Measurement of soil radioactivity levels and radiation hazard assessment in southern Rechna interfluvial region, Pakistan

Abstract

Rechna interfluvial region is one of the main regions of Punjab, Pakistan. It is the area which is lying between River Ravi and River Chenab, alluvial-filled. Radioactivity levels in soil samples, collected from southern Rechna interfluvial region, Pakistan, have been estimated by using gamma-ray spectrometric technique. (226)Ra, (232)Th, the primordial radionuclide (40)K, and the artificial radionuclide (137)Cs have been measured in the soil of the study area. The mean radioactivity levels of (226)Ra, (232)Th, (40)K, and (137)Cs were found to be 50.6 +/- 1.7, 62.3 +/- 3.2, 662.2 +/- 32.1, and 3.1 +/- 0.3 Bq kg(-1), respectively. The mean radium equivalent activity (Ra(eq)), outdoor radiation hazard index (H(out)), indoor radiation hazard index (H(in)), and terrestrial absorbed dose rate for the area under study were determined as 190.8 +/- 8.7 Bq kg(-1), 0.52, 0.65, and 69.8 nGy h(-1), respectively. The annual effective dose to the general public was found to be 0.43 mSv. This value lies well below the limit of 1 mSv for general public as recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection. The measured values are comparable with other global radioactivity measurements and are found to be safe for the public and the environment.

NORM determination in urban soils from selected cities in Chihuahua, Mexico

“…In Absorbed dose rate (D), it is important to point out that the value obtained is higher than the world average and higher than levels reported in the United States, Switzerland, Luxemburg, Japan, Romania, Taiwan and others countries (Dolhań czuk-Ś ródka, 2012;Jabbar et al, 2010;Mehra et al, 2007;Quindos, Fernández, Rodenas, Gómez-Arozamena & Arteche, 2004;Tzortzis, Tsertos, Christofides & Chistodoclides, 2003). Similar studies carried out in other regions of Mexico have reported lower values than those in Chihuahua.…”

“…It is important to point out that Ciudad Aldama had the highest values of the three natural isotopes: 67% higher than the world average for K. Comparing the averages in Chihuahua to those in other countries we can see that it has higher NORM levels than Luxemburg, Hungary, Japan, Bangladesh, China, Romania and Spain, and similar values to regions like Punjab, India (Dolhań czuk-Ś ródka, 2012;Jabbar et al, 2010;Mehra et al, 2007). Chihuahua city and Chihuahua State have been mentioned in others papers for its high radioactive levels (Colmenero-Sujo et al, 2004;Colmenero-Sujo & Villalba, 2010;Villalba et al, 2012).…”

“…Aldama had the highest values and Ciudad Juarez the lowest values. According to Jabbar et al (2010) the abundance of potassium in the soil depends on its characteristics; artificially fertilized soil has high amounts of potassium because of its additive property from potassium in the fertilizers.…”

“…Potassium is the 7 th most abundant element in the earth's crust, representing approximately 2.4% of its total weight. Most of the K is not radioactive, only the mass 40 isotope is radioactive and it corresponds to 0.0117% of natural potassium (Jabbar et al, 2010 , 2000). Moreover, many countries have published their own averages (Bassioni et al, 2012;Dolhań czuk-Ś ródka, 2012; García-Talavera, Mexico uranium deposits are not commercial grade.…”

“…Kathren, 1998;Mehra, Singh, Sing & Sonkawade, 2007;Topcuoglu et al, 2003;UNSCEAR, 2000 for Annual Effective Dose (AED), where the AED (0.48 mSv y -1 ) is about 16% of the total dose average that any human body receives from the soil (CancioPérez, 2010;UNSCEAR, 2008). In addition, the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) has recommended an annual maximum effective dose of 1 mSv y -1 for individuals (Jabbar et al, 2010;ICRP, 1993;Mehra et al, 2007). This is important because radioactivity can affect human health depending on the level of exposure.…”