Natural radioactivity measurements in soil samples from Hamirpur district, Himachal Pradesh, India

摘要

Radium, thorium and potassium analysis have been made in soil samples collected from some villages of Hamirpur district, Himachal Pradesh, India using gamma ray spectrometry. The work has been undertaken keeping in view the health hazard effects of these radioelements in the environment. The results for radium activity are also compared using track etch technique employing radon alpha method developed by Somogyi (Technical reports series no. 3 10, vol. 1, IAEA, Vienna, 1990, p. 229). The measurements have been taken using 5" x 4" NaI(Tl) detector. The gamma ray lines of 1.46, 1.76 and 2.62 MeV were employed for potassium, radium and thorium analysis. The results for radium content in soil obtained by gamma ray spectrometry agrees with that determined by the track etch technique. The radium activity in soil samples of Hamirpur district is found to be within the safe limits. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. [References: 11]