Natural radioactive environment of urban soils in Shihezi, China

Natural radioactive environment of urban soils in Shihezi, China 1 first-author 2 corresp Corresponding author. E-mail address: gebenwei2008@stu.snnu.edu.cn Corresponding author. E-mail address: gebenwei2008@stu.snnu.edu.cn gebenwei2008@stu.snnu.edu.cn College of Tourism and Environment, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710062, China College of Tourism and Environment, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710062, China Department of Geography, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang 832000, China Department of Geography, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang 832000, China Radionuclides, such as 238 U, 232 Th and 40 K, can be found in urban soil. To evaluate the natural radioactivity in the environment, soil samples were collected form Shihezi city and radioisotope concentrations were determined by X-ray fluorescence. The dose rate of urban soil (mGy per year, mGy/a) was calculated. The results indicate that the U, Th and K concentrations of the urban soils were, respectively, 1.2–3.2 mg/kg, 6.4–12.3 mg/kg and 2.05%–2.24%, with the mean values of 2.47 mg/kg, 10.47 mg/kg and 2.16 %. Dose rates of urban soils were 10.04–19.55 mGy/a with the mean value of 16.31 mGy/a. This dose rate is the perfect and maximum value of natural radiation in soil and different with the air absorbed dose rate from terrestrial γ-rays. The mean value of air absorbed dose rate was about 57.42 nGy/h. The annual effective dose rate in air was about 0.07 mSv/a and the average value of Ra eq in urban soil was 120.37 Bq/kg. The relative contribution of α particle to the dose rate is higher than that derived from β - and γ -rays in the urban soils. Natural radioactivity Radioactive environment Dose rate Urban soil Shihezi city References Psichoudaki M , Papaefthymiou H . J Environ Radioact , 2008 , 99 : 1011 - 1017 . J Environ Radioact Lu X W . Radiat Eff Defect Solids , 2007 , 162 : 455 - 462 . Radiat Eff Defect Solids Omoniyi I M . RM , 2008 , 43 : 125 - 128 . RM Aitken M J . An Introduction to Optical Dating: The Dating of Quaternary of sediments by the Use of Photon-stimulated Luminescence . Oxford : Oxford University Press , 1998 , 37 - 44 . An Introduction to Optical Dating: The Dating of Quaternary of sediments by the Use of Photon-stimulated Luminescence Singh J , Singh H , Singha S , et al . J Environ Radioact , 2009 , 100 : 94 - 98 . J Environ Radioact Faheem M , Mujahid S A , Matiullah. RM , 2008 , 43 : 1443 - 1447 . Matiullah. RM Osman A A , Salih I , Shaddad I A , et al . Appl Radiat Isot , 2008 , 66 : 1650 - 1653 . Appl Radiat Isot Veiga R , Sanches N , Anjos R M , et al . RM , 2006 , 41 : 189 - 196 . RM Tsabaris C . Appl Radiat Isot , 2008 , 66 : 1599 - 1603 . Appl Radiat Isot Papaefthymiou H , Gouseti O . RM , 2008 , 43 : 1453 - 1457 . RM Sonkawade R G , Kant K , Muralithar S , et al . Atmosph Environ , 2008 , 42 : 2254 - 2259 . Atmosph Environ Murty V R K , Karunakara N . RM , 2008 , 43 : 1541 - 1545 . RM Chen J , Wang H N . Geochemistry . Beijing : Science Press , 2004 , 37 - 49 . (in Chinese) Geochemistry Lu X W , Zhang X L . Environ Geol , 2006 , 50 : 977 - 982 . Environ Geol Liu E , Wang Y . A Environ Monit , 1990 , 4 : 130 - 141 . (in Chinese) A Environ Monit Wang Z Y . Natural radiation environment in China. International Congress Series , 2002 , 39 - 46 . Natural radiation environment in China. International Congress Series Lu X W . Radiat Eff Defect Solids , 2007 , 162 : 455 - 462 . Radiat Eff Defect Solids Prescott J R , Hutton J T . Nucl Track Radiat Measure , 1988 , 14 : 223 - 227 . Nucl Track Radiat Measure Wang L Q , Lu X W . Radiat Eff Defect Solids , 2007 , 162 : 677 - 683 . Radiat Eff Defect Solids 10.13538/j.1001-8042/nst.20.335-339 Supported by Initial foundation of Shihezi University for young college teachers (No.RCZX200691) 2009-06-02 2009-12-20 2021-01-19 2009 Nuclear Science and Techniques 06 20