title: Radionuclides in the soil around the largest coal-fired power plant in Serbia: radiological hazard, relationship with soil characteristics and spatial distribution.
abstract: Primordial radionuclides, (238)U, (232)Th and (40)K were determined in soil samples collected at two depths (0-10 and 10-20 cm) in the vicinity of the largest coal-fired power plant in Serbia, and their spatial distribution was analysed using ordinary kriging. Mean values of activity concentrations for these depths were 50.7 Bq kg(-1) for (238)U, 48.7 Bq kg(-1) for (232)Th and 560 Bq kg(-1) for (40)K. Based on the measured activity concentrations, the radiological hazard due to naturally occurring radionuclides in soil was assessed. The value of the mean total absorbed dose rate was 76.3 nGy h(-1), which is higher than the world average. The annual effective dose due to these radionuclides ranged from 51.4 to 114.2 μSv. Applying cluster analysis, correlations between radionuclides and soil properties were determined. The distribution pattern of natural radionuclides in the environment surrounding the coal-fired power plant and their enrichment in soil at some sampling sites were in accordance with dispersion models of fly ash emissions. From the results obtained, it can be concluded that operation of the coal-fired power plant has no significant negative impact on the surrounding environment with regard to the content of natural radionuclides.
authors.affiliation: University of Belgrade-Institute for the Application of Nuclear Energy, Banatska 31b, 11080, Belgrade, Serbia, cujicm@inep.co.rs.
authors.forename: Mirjana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ćujić
authors.forename: Snežana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dragović
authors.forename: Milan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Đorđević
authors.forename: Ranko
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dragović
authors.forename: Boško
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gajić
authors.forename: Šćepan
authors.initials: Š
authors.lastname: Miljanić
mesh_terms: D003031:Coal / Q000032:analysis; D060729:Coal Ash; D004777:Environment; D011210:Power Plants; D011834:Radiation Monitoring; D011868:Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis*; D055771:Serbia; D012987:Soil; D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D003031:Coal; D060729:Coal Ash; D011868:Radioisotopes; D012987:Soil; D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive