A systematic investigation on grain size enrichment of radionuclides and assessment of radiation hazards along the southern coastal environment of Kerala, India

摘要

The concentrations of natural radionuclides~(40)K,~(226)Ra and~(232)Th in sand samples collected from southern coastal parts of Kerala were determined by NaI(Tl) detector. The activities obtained for various grain sizes have been compared in order to understand the enrichment pattern. Sand with a grain size of 63-125 μm showed enhanced level of radionuclides concentration. The dose to the populace was also calculated from the activities of radionuclides in order to assess the radiation hazards. The calculated values of risk assessment parameters were not within the safe limits, which indicates the radiation hazards to the population due to these radionuclides are significant. However, the observed dose rates were well below the reported average values for other high background radiation areas. The results of the present systematic investigation are presented and discussed here in detail.