title: Preliminary results from the first national in situ gamma spectrometry survey of the United Kingdom.
abstract: In situ gamma spectrometry was introduced as part of a national soil and herbage pollution survey of the United Kingdom (UK) in 2002, to evaluate its potential for complimenting or even replacing the conventional soil sampling approach in environmental monitoring. A total of 128 points were measured across the whole of the UK on a 50-km grid, including 11 calibration sites, encompassing a complete spectrum of soil types, geology and depositional environments. Good comparisons are demonstrated between in situ and soil sample derived estimates of environmental radioactivity from spatially matched sampling plans. Air kerma results and the contributions to air kerma rate are also presented and compared with calibrated conventional single parameter GM based instruments. The preliminary results are presented here and show that in situ gamma spectrometry provides a rapid and robust approach, providing spatially integrated estimates for environmental monitoring purposes.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK. a.n.tyler@stir.ac.uk
authors.forename: Andrew N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Tyler
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Copplestone
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture; D000393:Air Pollutants; D002138:Calibration; D002588:Cesium Radioisotopes; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D010944:Plants / Q000528:radiation effects*; D011834:Radiation Monitoring / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D011848:Radioactive Pollutants; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis*; D013051:Spectrometry, Gamma / Q000379:methods*; D006113:United Kingdom
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D002588:Cesium Radioisotopes; D011848:Radioactive Pollutants; D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive