High background radiation sweeping along the southwest coast of Tamil Nadu, India

摘要

Ionizing radiations are a grave threat around the high background regions of the globe super(1). Selected pockets of Brazil, China and India are reportedly under the grip of high background radiation super(2). Presence of monazite sand along the beaches of these regions, among other factors, has contributed to these dreaded radiations. Recent studies have indicated the availability of monazite deposits throughout the erstwhile South Travancore region comprising parts of Kerala, and Kanyakumari District, Tamil Nadu super(3). The present study on radioactivity of beach sands of Manavalakurichi region along the south-west coast of India in Tamil Nadu, has revealed the high potency of the monazite sands spanning across the Kadiapattinam estuary on the eastern side of Manavalakurichi. Mention must be made of the Valliyar river with its origin at the Western Ghats and destination at Kadiapattinam, which serves to transport mineral from the weathering rocks of the Western Ghats, thereby constituting the major source of the highly radioactive mineral.