title: Systematic survey of natural radioactivity of soil in Slovenia.
abstract: Soil samples, from 70 points uniformly distributed over entire Slovenia, were analysed for (40)K, (232)Th and (226)Ra using gamma spectrometry, and for (234)U and (238)U using alpha spectrometry. The following ranges and averages of activity concentrations (Bq kg(-1)) were obtained: 98-2600 and 800 ± 520 for (40)K, 9-170 and 77 ± 33 for (232)Th, 12-270 and 63 ± 44 for (226)Ra, 12-84 and 34 ± 19 for (234)U, and 11-90 and 34 ± 19 for (238)U. With respect to lithology, the highest average values for (40)K and (232)Th were found at clastic sediments containing clay and for (226)Ra on carbonate rocks. Based on the measured activity concentrations, terrestrial gamma dose rates were calculated. The total dose rate ranged from 15 to 260 nGy h(-1), with arithmetic mean of 110 ± 49 nGy h(-1), being the highest over carbonates.
authors.affiliation: University of Pannonia, Institute of Radiochemistry and Radioecology, Veszprém, Hungary.
authors.forename: Tibor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kovács
authors.forename: Gábor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Szeiler
authors.forename: Ferenc
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fábián
authors.forename: Richárd
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kardos
authors.forename: Asta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gregorič
authors.forename: Janja
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vaupotič
mesh_terms: D011834:Radiation Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D017524:Slovenia; D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis*; D013051:Spectrometry, Gamma
chemical_list: D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive