title: Soil radioactivity measurements and estimation of radon/thoron exhalation rate in soil samples from Kalpakkam residential complex.
abstract: The objective of this study is to compute the primordial radionuclides activity in soil samples and estimate the radon/thoron exhalation rates. A total of 25 locations were chosen for the study at Kalpakkam. Ambient radiation levels were monitored prior to collection of samples, which were subjected to gamma spectrometry. While (238)U concentration was found to be below detectable limit, the activities of (232)Th and (40)K were varying from 34.53 to 1093.11 Bq kg(-1) and 36.6 to 570.08 Bq kg(-1), respectively. The radium equivalent activities (Raeq) were in the range of 83-1574 Bq kg(-1). There was no appreciable radon exhalation, and the thoron surface exhalation rate varied from 942 to 7720 Bq m(-2) h(-1). The annual effective dose was ranging from 0.05 to 0.81 mSv y(-1). Good correlation was observed between (232)Th content and thoron exhalation rate. The details of the study are presented in this article.
authors.affiliation: Radiological Safety Division, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam 603 102, India sbs@igcar.gov.in.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bala Sundar
authors.affiliation: Radiological Safety Division, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam 603 102, India.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chitra
authors.affiliation: Radiological Safety Division, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam 603 102, India.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vijayalakshmi
authors.affiliation: Radiological Safety Division, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam 603 102, India.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Danalakshmi
authors.affiliation: Radiological Safety Division, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam 603 102, India.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chandrasekaran
authors.affiliation: Radiological Safety Division, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam 603 102, India.
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Jose
authors.affiliation: Radiological Safety Division, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam 603 102, India.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Venkatraman
mesh_terms: D001417:Background Radiation; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005720:Gamma Rays; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D011197:Potassium Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis; D000069079:Radiation Exposure; D011834:Radiation Monitoring; D011886:Radon / Q000032:analysis*; D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis*; D014501:Uranium / Q000032:analysis; D014504:Urban Health
chemical_list: D011197:Potassium Radioisotopes; D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive; D014501:Uranium; D011886:Radon