Measurement and quantitative analysis of radioactivity concentration in soil on playgrounds of Korean elementary schools

摘要

The aim of this study is to obtain nationwide basic data on the distribution of environmental radiation and radioactivity in normal times and to draw a comparison of chart characteristics and distribution in various areas for contributing to the improvement in radioactivity analysis technology, people's health and national environment in the future. Soil sampling points from 160 elementary schools were selected based on the division of the Korean Peninsula by area before samples of soil were taken on playgrounds of the selected schools for analysis. The soil radioactivity concentrations in the investigated areas were measured by means of high purity Ge (HPGe) detector. The results obtained show that K-40 (potassium-40) value ranged from 654.49 ± 365.05 Bq/kg in Jeju Island to 1287.00 + 299.81 Bq/kg in Incheon Metropolitan City, Cs-137 (caesium-137) value ranged from 0.819 ±0.164 Bq/kg in North Jeolla Province to 0.140 ±0.080 Bq/kg in Ulsan Metropolitan City, Be-7 (beryllium-7) value ranged from 979.5 ± 123.22 Bq/kg in Seoul Metropolitan City to 11.81 ± 3.29 Bq/kg in South Jeolla Province, Tl-208 (thorium C) value ranged from 90.82 ± 14.66 Bq/kg in Incheon Metropolitan City to 24.03 ± 8.25 Bq/kg in Busan Metropolitan City, Pb-212 (thorium B) value ranged from 91.99 ±25.94 Bq/kg in Incheon Metropolitan City to 25.23 + 18.11 Bq/kg in Busan Metropolitan City, Bi-214 (radium C) value ranged from 42.70 + 16.79 Bq/kg in Incheon Metropolitan City to 14.79 ± 10.30 Bq/kg in Jeju Island, Ra-226 (radium-226) value ranged from 96.63 ± 32.12 Bq/kg in Incheon Metropolitan City to 36.77 + 9.30 Bq/kg in Busan Metropolitan City.