Radioactivity levels and heavy metals in the urban soil of Central Serbia

Abstract

Radioactivity concentrations and heavy metal content were measured in soil samples collected from the area of Kragujevac, one of the largest cities in Serbia. The specific activities of (226)Ra, (232)Th, (40)K and (137)Cs in 30 samples were measured by gamma spectrometry using an HPGe semiconductor detector. The average values ± standard deviations were 33.5 ± 8.2, 50.3 ± 10.6, 425.8 ± 75.7 and 40.2 ± 26.3 Bq kg(-1), respectively. The activity concentrations of (226)Ra, (232)Th and (137)Cs have shown normal distribution. The annual effective doses, radium equivalent activities, external hazard indexes and excess lifetime cancer risk were also estimated. A RAD7 device was used for measuring radon exhalation rates from several samples with highest content of (226)Ra. The concentrations of As, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn were measured, as well as their EDTA extractable concentrations. Wide ranges of values were obtained, especially for Cr, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn. The absence of normal distribution indicates anthropogenic origin of Cr, Ni, Pb and Zn. Correlations between radionuclide activities, heavy metal contents and physicochemical properties of analysed soil were determined by Spearman correlation coefficient. Strong positive correlation between (226)Ra and (232)Th was found.

Estimation of health risk and effective dose based on measured radon levels in Korean homes and a qualitative assessment for residents’ radon awareness

“…The methods used to assess the effective dose and excess cancer risk were from previous studies. [34][35][36][37][38][39] The effective dose and the excess risk of lung cancer were derived from survey results and annual radon concentration measurements. Effective dose was calculated using criteria described in the UNSCEAR report.…”

Health risk assessment of natural and artificial radionuclides in medicinal plants

“…The specific activity of 232 Th was determined by the gamma-ray lines of 228 Ac (at the energies of 338.3, 911.1 and 968.9 keV) and 208 Tl (at the energies of 583.0 and 860.6 keV). The gamma ray lines at 1460.7 and 661.6 keV were used for estimating specific activities of 40 K and 137 Cs, respectively (MILENKOVIC et al, 2015). For activity and background, a timer of 252,000 seconds was set.…”

A review: Natural and artificial radionuclides and radiation hazard parameters in the soil of mountain regions in Serbia

“…Investigation of radionuclide content in the soil has also been conducted in urban areas (Grdović et al, 2010;Janković Mandić and Dragović, 2010;Dragović et al, 2012;Milenković et al, 2015;Mitrović et al, 2016b;Vukašinović et al, 2018), agriculture soil (Vukašinović et al, 2009(Vukašinović et al, , 2010Bikit et al, 2011;Mitrović et al, 2013b;Forkapić et al, 2017) and in the vicinity of industrial plants (Vitorović et al, 2012;Vukašinović et al, 2014). Gammaspectrometric determination of 238 U in the soil sampled from 21 different locations in Serbia and Montenegro showed that uranium content ranged from 1.28 ppm on Slatina (approximately 15.7 Bq/kg) to 4.80 ppm in Vranje (approximately 58.8 Bq/kg), with the mean value of 2.76 ppm (approximately 33.8 Bq/kg) (Dragović et al, 2006b).…”