Radioactivity levels in soil of salt field area, Kelambakkam, Tamilnadu, India

Radioactivity levels in soil of salt field area, Kelambakkam, Tamilnadu, India 1 corresp first-author Corresponding author. E-mail: ravissn@gmail.com, ravi@ssnce.ac.in Corresponding author. E-mail: ravissn@gmail.com, ravi@ssnce.ac.in ravissn@gmail.com 1 2 3 3 Department of Physics, Sri Sivasubramania Nadar College of Engineering, Kalavakkam, Chennai- 603110, Tamilnadu, India; Department of Physics, Sri Sivasubramania Nadar College of Engineering, Kalavakkam, Chennai- 603110, Tamilnadu, India; Department of Physics, SMK Fomra Institute of Technology, Thaiyur, Chennai- 603 103, Tamilnadu, India; Department of Physics, SMK Fomra Institute of Technology, Thaiyur, Chennai- 603 103, Tamilnadu, India; Radiological Safety Section, Health and Safety Division, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR), Kalpakkam- 603102, Tamilnadu, India Radiological Safety Section, Health and Safety Division, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR), Kalpakkam- 603102, Tamilnadu, India Soil samples in and around salt field area have been analyzed for natural radioactivity concentration using gamma ray spectrometer. The activity concentration for 232 Th, 238 U and 40 K are ranged from 27.88 to 45.27 Bq/kg, from BDL to 13.30 Bq/kg, and from 135.54 to 381.28 Bq/kg, respectively. The measured activity concentrations for these radionuclides were compared with world average activity of soil. The average activity concentration of 232 Th in the present study is 1.19 times higher than world median value while the activity of 238 U and 40 K is found to be lower. The absorbed dose rates due to these radionuclides were calculated. The average absorbed gamma dose rate due to the presence of 232 Th, 238 U and 40 K in soil samples is 36.99 nGy·h -1 . These results indicate no radiological anomaly. The data presented in this study will serve as a base line survey for primordial radionuclides concentration in the study area. Natural radioactivity Soil samples Salt field Gamma-ray spectrometer References United National Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) . Sources and risks of ionizing radiation. Report to the General Assembly with annexes , New York , United Nations , 2000 . Sources and risks of ionizing radiation. Report to the General Assembly with annexes Ravisankar R , Dheenathayalu M , Ramasamy V , et al . Radiation Protection and Environment , 2003 , 26 : 426 . Radiation Protection and Environment Ravisankar R , Rajalakshmi A , Manikandan E . Acta Cieicia Indica , 2006 , XXXII . 3 : 341 . Acta Cieicia Indica Ravisankar R , Dheenathayalu M , Manikandan E , et al . Radiation Protection and Environment , 2005 , 28 : 419 Radiation Protection and Environment Ravisankar R , Rajalakshmi A , Manikandan E , et al DAE-BRNS Symposium on Nuclear Physics , The Maharaja Sayarirao University, University of Baroda , Vadodara, India , December 11-15, 2006 : 672 - 673 . DAE-BRNS Symposium on Nuclear Physics Carreria M C V , Sequeria A . Proceedings of XV Regional Congress of IRPA , Visby, Coltand, Sweden , 10-14 September, 1989 . United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) . Sources and risks of ionising radiation. Report to the General Assembly with annexes . New York : United Nations , 1988 . Sources and risks of ionising radiation. Report to the General Assembly with annexes 10.1016/S1001-8042(08)60011-1 P619.21 + 1,X125 2007-07-16 2007-12-20 2021-01-19 2007 Nuclear Science and Techniques 06 18