Radioprotection 2024 , 59 ( 4 ), 317 – 326 © E . Srinivasa et al ., Published by EDP Sciences , 2024 https :// doi . org / 10.1051 / radiopro / 2024028
Available online at : https :// www . radioprotection . org / ARTICLE
Natural radioactivity and radiological hazards assessment in soil samples of Hassan district , Karnataka State , India
E . Srinivasa 1 ,* , D . R . Rangaswamy 2 ,* and S . Suresh 3 1 Department of Physics , Government First Grade College , Tiptur 572202 , India . 2 Department Science and Humanities , PES University , Electronic City Campus , Bangalore 560100 , India . 3 Department of Physics , M . P . E Society ’ s , S . D . M Degree College , Honavar , Karnataka 581334 , India .
Received : 7 June 2024 / Accepted : 11 July 2024 Abstract – The distribution of natural radionuclides in soil samples was carried out in and around Hassan district , Karnataka , India , by using a Hyper Purity Germanium ( HPGe ) detector , and the portable GM survey meter ER-709 used to measure the natural ambient gamma dose rate . The activity concentration of radionuclides such as 238 U , 226 Ra , 232 Th , and 40 K in soil samples of the study area varies from 16 ± 1 to 72 ± 2 , 13 ± 1 to 64 ± 2 , 19 ± 1 to 185 ± 2 , and 197 ± 9 to 1214 ± 22 Bq kg �1 with a mean value of 42 ± 2 , 39 ± 1 , 58 ± 2 , and 592 ± 15 Bq kg �1 , respectively . The radiological hazards such as the radium equivalent activities ( Ra eq ), external hazard index ( H ex ), internal hazard index ( H in ), gamma index ( I g ), gamma absorbed dose , and annual effective dose associated with the natural radioactivity in soil samples were calculated and compared with global average values .
Keywords : Radionuclides / natural background radiation / soil / health hazard indices / HPGe detector / equivalent effective dose
1 Introduction
Radionuclides such as 238 U , 226 Ra , 232 Th , and 40 K that are present in air , water , food , and soil are called natural radionuclides ( UNSCEAR , 2000 ; Jabbar et al ., 2010 ). The radioactivity exhibited by these radionuclides present in the environmental matrix is called environmental radioactivity . The radiation produced due to natural radionuclides present in the environmental matrix is called natural background radiation . The most important radiation sources to which all individuals are exposed are the ionizing radiation such as a , b , and g radiations arising from natural radionuclides in the earth ’ s crust and the cosmic ray interaction on the earth ’ s atmosphere ( UNSCEAR , 2000 ; Lilley , 2013 ). Man-made radiation arising from , consumer products , diagnostic X-rays , nuclear medicine procedures , radiation oncology , fuel cycle facility , industrial radiography , nuclear power plants , nuclear accidents , military waste , the fallout of radionuclides from nuclear bomb explosions , industrial waste , etc . ( Eisenbud and Gesell , 1997 ). Human beings were exposed to two types of radiation , which are called internal exposure and external exposure . Internal exposure is due to radionuclides taken into
* Corresponding authors : rangaswamydr @ pes . edu ; srinivasyadhu @ gmail . com the body through ingestion of food materials , etc ., and due to inhalation of 222 Rn , 220 Rn , and their progenies present in the atmosphere . External exposures are due to radioactive nuclides present in varying amounts in the earth ’ s crust , atmosphere , and building materials ( Eisenbud and Gesell , 1997 ; NCRP , 1975 ; Srinivasa et al ., 2022 ). Nearly 80 % of the total radiation dose received by the public is from natural environmental radiation , out of which the concentration of radionuclides in soil , rock , building materials and water are the main contributors ( Sannappa et al ., 2003 ). According to UNSCEAR , the total world average annual natural radiation exposure from all sources is 2.4 mSvy �1 ( UNSCEAR , 2000 ). The average levels of radiation exposure due to the medical uses of radiation in developed countries is equivalent to approximately 50 % of the global average level of natural exposure ( UNSCEAR , 2000 ). The knowledge of the distribution of radionuclides and radiation levels in the environment is very important in assessing the effects due to radiation exposures on human beings ( Ramola and Negi , 2004 ; Srinivasa et al ., 2015 ; ICRP , 1993 ). The study of natural background radiation and terrestrial radioactive nuclides is very important to assess radiation hazards in a particular area . The activity concentration of radionuclides depends on geology and the types of rocks and soil present in that area . In this regard , an attempt has been made for the first time in the present study area to estimate the activity concentration of
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