Evaluation and analysis of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K and radon exhalation rate in the soil samples for health risk assessment

Abstract

The measurements of radium, thorium and potassium using gamma spectrometry and radon exhalation rates using solid-state nuclear track detectors (LR-115, Type-II plastic) are carried out in the soil samples collected from some parts of western districts of Haryana, India. The activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K range from 13.93 to 142 Bq kg−1, 35.95 to 91.78 Bq kg−1 and 299.57 to 1056.77 Bq kg−1, respectively. The values of total absorbed dose and annual effective dose (indoors and outdoors) were found to vary from 42.12 to 140.05 nGy h−1, 0.22 to 0.69 mSv y−1 and 0.05 to 0.17 mSv y−1 respectively. The radium equivalent activity (Raeq) in all the soil samples varies from 92.51 to 287.08 Bq kg−1 with an average of 184.15 Bq kg−1. The radium values are lower than the recommended safe limit of 370 Bq kg−1 hence there is no radiological risk to the residents of the studied area.