title: Radioactivity levels and heavy metals in the urban soil of Central Serbia.
abstract: Radioactivity concentrations and heavy metal content were measured in soil samples collected from the area of Kragujevac, one of the largest cities in Serbia. The specific activities of (226)Ra, (232)Th, (40)K and (137)Cs in 30 samples were measured by gamma spectrometry using an HPGe semiconductor detector. The average values ± standard deviations were 33.5 ± 8.2, 50.3 ± 10.6, 425.8 ± 75.7 and 40.2 ± 26.3 Bq kg(-1), respectively. The activity concentrations of (226)Ra, (232)Th and (137)Cs have shown normal distribution. The annual effective doses, radium equivalent activities, external hazard indexes and excess lifetime cancer risk were also estimated. A RAD7 device was used for measuring radon exhalation rates from several samples with highest content of (226)Ra. The concentrations of As, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn were measured, as well as their EDTA extractable concentrations. Wide ranges of values were obtained, especially for Cr, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn. The absence of normal distribution indicates anthropogenic origin of Cr, Ni, Pb and Zn. Correlations between radionuclide activities, heavy metal contents and physicochemical properties of analysed soil were determined by Spearman correlation coefficient. Strong positive correlation between (226)Ra and (232)Th was found.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Science, University of Kragujevac, R. Domanovica 12, Kragujevac, 34000, Serbia. bmilenkovic@kg.ac.rs.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Milenkovic
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Science, University of Kragujevac, R. Domanovica 12, Kragujevac, 34000, Serbia.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Stajic
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Natural Science, University of Pristina, Lole Ribara 29, 38220, Kosovska Mitrovica, Serbia.
authors.forename: Lj
authors.initials: Lj
authors.lastname: Gulan
authors.affiliation: Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops, Maksima Gorkog 30, Novi Sad, 21000, Serbia.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zeremski
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Science, University of Kragujevac, R. Domanovica 12, Kragujevac, 34000, Serbia.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nikezic
mesh_terms: D002947:Cities; D006801:Humans; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D011851:Radioactivity; D055771:Serbia; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry*; D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis*; D013051:Spectrometry, Gamma
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D012987:Soil; D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive
keywords: Correlation; Dose rate; Heavy metal; Radionuclide; Radon exhalation rate; Soil