Natural radioactivity assessment of surface sediments in the Yangtze Estuary.
The activities of the natural radionuclides (238U,232Th,226Ra and40K) of the surface sediments in the Yangtze Estuary were determined and used to evaluate radiation hazards in the study area. The of activities of238U,232Th,226Ra and40K ranges from 14.1 to 62.3, 26.1 to 71.9, 13.7 to 52.3, and 392 to 898Bqkg-1, respectively, which were comparable to values of other regions in China. The activities of232Th,40K and226Ra were clearly different from the global recommended values. The radium equivalent activity was less than the recommended limit of 370Bqkg-1; therefore, the sediment in this area can be safely used for reclamation. The external hazard index values were less than one. The average absorbed gamma dose rate and annual effective dose equivalent values were slightly greater than the world average value.226Ra/238U and232Th/238U ratios could potentially be applied for tracing sediment source.
State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, PR China.
Jinlong
J
Wang
State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, PR China. Electronic address: jzdu@sklec.ecnu.edu.cn.
Jinzhou
J
Du
State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, PR China.
Qianqian
Q
Bi
D001417:Background Radiation; D002681:China; D063366:Estuaries; D005720:Gamma Rays; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D011834:Radiation Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D011868:Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis; D011883:Radium / Q000032:analysis; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry*; D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis*; D013051:Spectrometry, Gamma; D014875:Water Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis*
D011868:Radioisotopes; D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive; D014875:Water Pollutants, Radioactive; D011883:Radium
(226)Ra/(238)U; Natural radioactivity; Radiation hazard; Sediment; Yangtze Estuary