Radioactive contents and background doses from northern alluvial sediment plains between rivers Ravi and Chenab,Pakistan

摘要

Radiometric analysis of soil samples, collected from northern alluvial sediment plains between rivers Ravi and Chenab, has been carried out. Activity concentrations of^(226) Ra,^(232)Th,^(40) K and the artificial radionuclide^(137) Cs were estimated by using high-purity germanium detector. Subsequent values of activity concentrations were used to find terrestrial absorbed dose rate and annual effective doses received by resident of area. The mean radioactivity levels of^(226) Ra,^(232)Th,^(40) K and^(137)Cs were found to be 45.0 ± 1.3,59.6 ± 2.8, 613.8 ± 20.0 and 4.0 ± 0.2 Bq kg^(-1), respectively. Terrestrial absorbed dose rate and annual effective dose received by public were found to be 85.1 n Gy h^(-1)and0.5 m Sv, respectively. The activity concentrations of^(226) Ra,^(232)Th,^(40) K and^(137)Cs and resulting doses obtained for the current study were compared with data available in the literature and with international standards.