Abstract
Soil samples from vegetable farmland in densely populated wards of Nepal were analyzed for natural radionuclide levels, employing a NaI(Tl) 3” \(\times \) 3” gamma detector. The study aimed to evaluate the causes of radiation risk, attributing it to soil contamination resulting from the rapid urbanization and concretization that followed the earthquake in 2015. The activity concentration of radium-226, thorium-232, and potassium-40 and the ranges observed are 2.080±0.084–33.675±1.356 Bq kg\(^{-1}\), 17.222±0.198–119.949±1.379 Bq kg\(^{-1}\), and 11.203 ± 0.325–748.828±21.716 Bq kg\(^{-1}\), respectively. The average values obtained for hazard indices are as follows: radium equivalent activity (82.779 Bq kg\(^{-1}\)), absorbed dose rate (36.394 nGy h\(^{-1}\)), annual effective dose equivalent (0.045 mSv yearr\(^{-1}\)), gamma index (0.291), external hazard index (0.224), internal hazard index (0.253), excess lifetime cancer risk (0.159), annual gonadal dose equivalent (243.278 mSv year\(^{-1}\)), alpha index (0.054), and activity utilization index (0.716). However, in most places, thorium-232 concentration is greater than those of the world average and recommended values. In specific locations such as Ward 4 in Baluwatar, the soil was found to have concentrations of Ra\(^{226}\) and K\(^{40}\) exceeding recommended limits. Despite this localized concern, the overall analysis of hazard indices across the studied areas revealed that most values were within permissible limits. This suggests that, on a broader scale, radiation exposure may not be a significant concern in the investigated regions. Nonetheless, the study recommends regular monitoring in additional locations to ensure a comprehensive and ongoing assessment of radiation levels.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Data availability
The data will be made available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
References
Abbasi, A. (2013). Calculation of gamma radiation dose rate and radon concentration due to granites used as building materials in Iran. Radiation Protection Dosimetry, 155(3), 335–342. https://doi.org/10.1093/rpd/nct003
Abbasi, A. (2019). \(^{210}\)Pb and \(^{137}\)Cs based techniques for the estimation of sediment chronologies and sediment rates in the Anzali Lagoon, Caspian Sea. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 322(2), 319–330. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-019-06739-8
Abbasi, A. (2022). Natural radiation of chemical fertilisers and radiological impact on agriculture soil. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 331(10), 4111–4118. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-022-08470-3
Abbasi, A. (2023). Radiation risk assessment of coastal biota from a quasi-Fukushima hypothetical accident in the Mediterranean Sea. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 194, 115363. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115363
Abbasi, A., Algethami, M., Bawazeer, O., & Zakaly, H. M. (2022). Distribution of natural and anthropogenic radionuclides and associated radiation indices in the Southwestern coastline of Caspian Sea. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 178, 113593. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113593
Abbasi, A., Kurnaz, A., Turhan, Ş, & Mirekhtiary, F. (2020). Radiation hazards and natural radioactivity levels in surface soil samples from dwelling areas of North Cyprus. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 324, 203–210. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-020-07069-w
Abbasi, A., & Mirekhtiary, F. (2013). Comparison of active and passive methods for radon exhalation from a high-exposure building material. Radiation Protection Dosimetry, 157(4), 570–574. https://doi.org/10.1093/rpd/nct163
Abbasi, A., & Mirekhtiary, F. (2020). Heavy metals and natural radioactivity concentration in sediments of the Mediterranean Sea coast. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 154, 111041. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111041
Abbasi, A., Mirekhtiary, F., Turhan, Ş, Kurnaz, A., Rammah, Y., Abdel-Hafez, S. H., & Zakaly, H. M. (2022). Spatial distribution and health risk assessment in urban surface soils of Mediterranean Sea region. Cyprus İsland. Arabian Journal of Geosciences, 15(10), 987. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-022-10249-5
Abbasi, A., & Mirekhtiary, S. F. (2019). Risk assessment due to various terrestrial radionuclides concentrations scenarios. International Journal of Radiation Biology, 95(2), 179–185. https://doi.org/10.1080/09553002.2019.1539881
Abbasi, A., Zakaly, H. M., Algethami, M., & Abdel-Hafez, S. H. (2022). Radiological risk assessment of natural radionuclides in the marine ecosystem of the northwest Mediterranean Sea. International Journal of Radiation Biology, 98(2), 205–211. https://doi.org/10.1080/09553002.2022.2020359
Abbasi, A., Zakaly, H. M., & Alotaibi, B. (2023). Radioactivity concentration and radiological risk assessment of beach sand along the coastline in the Mediterranean Sea. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 195, 115527. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115527
Abbasi, A., Zakaly, H. M., & Mirekhtiary, F. (2020). Baseline levels of natural radionuclides concentration in sediments East coastline of North Cyprus. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 161, 111793. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111793
Abedin, M., Karim, M., Hossain, S., Deb, N., Kamal, M., Miah, M., & Khandaker, M. U. (2019). Spatial distribution of radionuclides in agricultural soil in the vicinity of a coal-fired brick kiln. Arabian Journal of Geosciences, 12(7), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-019-4355-7
Abojassim, A. A., & Rasheed, L. H. (2021). Natural radioactivity of soil in the Baghdad governorate. Environmental Earth Sciences, 80(1), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-020-09292-w
Ademola, A. K., Bello, A. K., & Adejumobi, A. C. (2014). Determination of natural radioactivity and hazard in soil samples in and around gold mining area in Itagunmodi, south-western, Nigeria. Journal of Radiation Research and Applied Sciences, 7(3), 249–255. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrras.2014.06.001
Adewoyin, O., Maxwell, O., Akinwumi, S., Adagunodo, T., Embong, Z., & Saeed, M. (2022). Estimation of activity concentrations of radionuclides and their hazard indices in coastal plain sand region of Ogun state. Scientific Reports, 12(1), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-06064-3
Agbalagba, E., Avwiri, G., & Chad-Umoreh, Y. (2012). \(\gamma \)-Spectroscopy measurement of natural radioactivity and assessment of radiation hazard indices in soil samples from oil fields environment of Delta State, Nigeria. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 109, 64–70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2011.10.012
Ahmad, N., Khan, A., Ahmad, I., Hussain, J., & Ullah, N. (2021). Health implications of natural radioactivity in spring water used for drinking in Harnai, Balochistan. Journal of Radiation Research and Applied Sciences, 101(9), 1302–1309. https://doi.org/10.1080/03067319.2019.1679805
Ahmed, N. K., & El-Arabi, A. G. M. (2005). Natural radioactivity in farm soil and phosphate fertilizer and its environmental implications in Qena governorate, Upper Egypt. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 84(1), 51–64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2005.04.007
Akkurt, I., & Günoğlu, K. (2014). Natural radioactivity measurements and radiation dose estimation in some sedimentary rock samples in Turkey. Science and Technology of Nuclear Installations, 2014,. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/950978
Alazemi, N., Bajoga, A., Bradley, D., Regan, P., & Shams, H. (2016). Soil radioactivity levels, radiological maps and risk assessment for the state of Kuwait. Chemosphere, 154, 55–62. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2016.03.057
Al-Ghamdi, A. (2019). Health risk assessment of natural background radiation in the soil of Eastern province, Saudi Arabia. Journal of Radiation Research and Applied Sciences, 12(1), 219–225. https://doi.org/10.1080/16878507.2019.1637045
Al-Jundi, J., Al-Bataina, B., Abu-Rukah, Y., & Shehadeh, H. (2003). Natural radioactivity concentrations in soil samples along the Amman Aqaba Highway. Jordan. Radiation Measurements, 36(1–6), 555–560. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1350-4487(03)00202-6
Almayahi, B., Tajuddin, A., & Jaafar, M. (2012). Radiation hazard indices of soil and water samples in Northern Malaysian Peninsula. Applied Radiation and Isotopes, 70(11), 2652–2660. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apradiso.2012.07.021
Alseroury, F., Almeelbi, T., Khan, A., Barakata, M., Al-Zahrani, J., & Alali, W. (2018). Estimation of natural radioactive and heavy metals concentration in underground water. Journal of Radiation Research and Applied Sciences, 11(4), 373–378. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.2018.07.004. Journal of Radiation Research and AppliedSciences
Anderson, T. W. (1958). An introduction to multivariate statistical analysis (2). New York: Wiley.
Belyaeva, O., Movsisyan, N., Pyuskyulyan, K., Sahakyan, L., Tepanosyan, G., & Saghatelyan, A. (2021). Yerevan soil radioactivity: Radiological and geochemical assessment. Chemosphere, 265, 129173. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.129173
Beretka, J., & Matthew, P. (1985). Natural radioactivity of Australian building materials, industrial wastes and by-products. Health Physics, 48(1), 87–95. https://journals.lww.com/health-physics/Abstract/1985/01000/Natural_Radioactivity_of_Australian_Building.7.aspx
Bhatta, R., Rijal, B., Acharya, A., Shah, D. R., Karki, R. S., & Shah, B. R. (2023). Distribution of radionuclides in river sediments of Kathmandu valley, Nepal and the evaluation of associated radiation hazard. Radiation Protection Dosimetry, 199(10), 1057–1062. https://doi.org/10.1093/rpd/ncad132
Caridi, F., Di Bella, M., Sabatino, G., Belmusto, G., Fede, M. R., Romano, D., & Mottese, A. F. (2021). Assessment of natural radioactivity and radiological risks in river sediments from Calabria (Southern Italy). Applied Sciences, 11(4), 1729. https://doi.org/10.3390/app11041729
da Costa Dantas, R., Navoni, J. A., de Alencar, F. L. S., da Costa Xavier, L. A., & do Amaral, V.S. (2020). Natural radioactivity in Brazil: A systematic review. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 27, 143–157. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-06962-6
De Jong, P., Van Dijk, W., van der Graaf, E. R., & de Groot, T. J. (2006). National survey on the natural radioactivity and 222Rn exhalation rate of building materials in the Netherlands. Health Physics, 91(3), 200–210. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.HP.0000205238.17466.1c
Din, K. S., Ahmed, N., Abbady, A., & Abdallah, F. (2023). Exposure of aquatic organisms to natural radionuclides in irrigation drains. Qena. Egypt. Scientific Reports, 13(1), 413. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-27594-4
Dizman, S., Görür, F. K., & Keser, R. (2016). Determination of radioactivity levels of soil samples and the excess of lifetime cancer risk in Rize province, Turkey. International Journal of Radiation Research, 14(3), 237. https://doi.org/10.18869/acadpub.ijrr.14.3.237
Durusoy, A., & Yildirim, M. (2017). Determination of radioactivity concentrations in soil samples and dose assessment for Rize Province, Turkey. Journal of Radiation Research and Applied Sciences, 10(4), 348–352. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.2017.09.005Journal of Radiation Research and Applied Sciences
Gbadamosi, M., Afolabi, T., Banjoko, O., Ogunneye, A., Abudu, K., Ogunbanjo, O., & Jegede, D. (2018). Spatial distribution and lifetime cancer risk due to naturally occurring radionuclides in soils around tar-sand deposit area of Ogun State, southwest Nigeria. Chemosphere, 193, 1036–1048. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.11.132
Guidotti, L., Carini, F., Rossi, R., Gatti, M., Cenci, R. M., & Beone, G. M. (2015). Gamma-spectrometric measurement of radioactivity in agricultural soils of the Lombardia region, northern Italy. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 142, 36–44. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2015.01.010
Hameed, P. S., Pillai, G. S., Satheeshkumar, G., & Mathiyarasu, R. (2014). Measurement of gamma radiation from rocks used as building material in Tiruchirappalli district, Tamil Nadu, India. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 300(3), 1081–1088. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-014-3033-1
Ibraheem, A. A., El-Taher, A., & Alruwaili, M. H. (2018). Assessment of natural radioactivity levels and radiation hazard indices for soil samples from Abha, Saudi Arabia. Results in Physics, 11, 325–330. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rinp.2018.09.013
ICRP. (1991). 1990 Recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection. ICRP Publication 60. Annals of the ICRP, 21, 1–3. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/ANIB_21_1-3
Imani, M., Adelikhah, M., Shahrokhi, A., Azimpour, G., Yadollahi, A., Kocsis, E., & Kovács, T. (2021). Natural radioactivity and radiological risks of common building materials used in Semnan Province dwellings. Iran. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 28(30), 41492–41503. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-13469-6
Inoue, K., Fukushi, M., Van Le, T., Tsuruoka, H., Kasahara, S., & Nimelan, V. (2020). Distribution of gamma radiation dose rate related with natural radionuclides in all of Vietnam and radiological risk assessment of the built-up environment. Scientific Reports, 10(1), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-69003-0
Joel, E., Maxwell, O., Adewoyin, O., Olawole, O., Arijaje, T., Embong, Z., & Saeed, M. (2019). Investigation of natural environmental radioactivity concentration in soil of coastaline area of Ado-Odo/Ota Nigeria and its radiological implications. Scientific Reports, 9(1), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-40884-0
Joel, E., Omeje, M., Olawole, O., Adeyemi, G., Akinpelu, A., Embong, Z., & Saeed, M. (2021). In-situ assessment of natural terrestrial-radioactivity from uranium-238 (\(^{238}\)U), thorium-232 (\(^{232}\)Th) and potassium-40 (\(^{40}\)K) in coastal urban-environment and its possible health implications. Scientific Reports, 11(1), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-96516-z
Kaniu, M., Darby, I., & Angeyo, H. (2019). Assessment and mapping of the high background radiation anomaly associated with laterite utilization in the south coastal region of Kenya. Journal of African Earth Sciences, 160, 103606. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2019.103606
Kefalati, M., Masoudi, S. F., & Abbasi, A. (2021). Effect of human body position on gamma radiation dose rate from granite stones. Journal of Environmental Health Science and Engineering, 19(1), 933–939. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40201-021-00660-7
Khadka, D. R., & Lamsal, M. (2020). Geology and ground radiometric survey for U/Th prospecting and radiation hazard mapping in parts of Shivpuri Area, Northern Part of Kathmandu Valley. Annual Report of Department of Mines and Geology, 12, 31–37. https://dmgnepal.gov.np/uploads/documents/annual-report-dmg-no-12pdf-2114-352-1687930459.pdf
Khadka, D. R., & Maharjan, N. (2019). Status of uranium and thorium prospects in Nepal. Annual Report of Department of Mines and Geology, 11, 31–37.
KMC (2012). Kathmandu Metropolitan City. https://web.archive.org/web/20120623003237/http://www.kathmandu.gov.np/Page_Introduction_1
Knoll, G. F. (2010). Radiation detection and measurement. John Wiley & Sons.
Lamichhane, P., Rijal, B., Shrestha, P., & Shah, B. (2021). Assessment of environmental radioactivity in soil samples from Kathmandu Valley Nepal. Journal of Nepal Physical Society, 7(2), 89–96. https://doi.org/10.3126/jnphyssoc.v7i2.38628
Lewicka, S., Piotrowska, B., Łukaszek-Chmielewska, A., & Drzymała, T. (2022). Assessment of natural radioactivity in cements used as building materials in Poland. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(18), 11695. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191811695
Liu, X., & Lin, W. (2018). Natural radioactivity in the beach sand and soil along the coastline of Guangxi Province, China. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 135, 446–450. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.07.057
McAulay, I., & Morgan, D. (1988). Natural radioactivity in soil in the Republic of Ireland. Radiation Protection Dosimetry, 24(1–4), 47–49. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.rpd.a080239
Miah, A., Miah, M., Kamal, M., Chowdhury, M., & Rahmatullah, M. (2012). Natural radioactivity and associated dose rates in soil samples of Malnichera Tea Garden in Sylhet district of Bangladesh. Journal of Physics G: Nuclear and Particle Physics, 2(6), 147–152. https://doi.org/10.5923/j.jnpp.20120206.03
Mishra, A. & Khanal, R. (2021). Scattering of gamma radiation by air in the ambient environment using gamma ray spectrometry. Kuwait Journal of Science, https://doi.org/10.48129/kjs.17253
Mohammed, R., & Ahmed, R. (2017). Estimation of excess lifetime cancer risk and radiation hazard indices in southern Iraq. Environmental Earth Sciences, 76(7), 303. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-017-6616-7
Momčilović, M., Kovačević, J., Tanić, M., Đorđević, M., Bačić, G., & Dragović, S. (2013). Distribution of natural radionuclides in surface soils in the vicinity of abandoned uranium mines in Serbia. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 185, 1319–1329. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-012-2634-9
Myrick, T., Berven, B., & Haywood, F. (1983). Determination of concentrations of selected radionuclides in surface soil in the US. Health Physics, 45(3), 631–642. https://journals.lww.com/health-physics/abstract/1983/09000/determination_of_concentrations_of_selected.6.aspx
Ndour, O., Thiandoume, C., Traore, A., Cagnat, X., Diouf, P. M., Ndeye, M., & Tidjani, A. (2020). Assessment of natural radioactivity and its radiological hazards in several types of cement used in Senegal. SN Applied Sciences, 2(12), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-020-03904-7
Olomo, J., Akinloye, M., & Balogun, F. (1994). Distribution of gamma-emitting natural radionuclides in soils and water around nuclear research establishments, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, 353(1–3), 553–557. https://doi.org/10.1016/0168-9002(94)91721-3
Özdiş, B., Çam, N. Canbaz., & Öztürk, B. (2017). Assessment of natural radioactivity in cements used as building materials in Turkey. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 311(1), 307–316. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-016-5074-0
Quinram, P., Jitpukdee, M., Pornnumpa, C., & Kranrod, C. (2019). Risk assessment to natural radiation exposure from soil samples in the Jasmine rice cultivated area, Roi Et province Thailand. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 1285(1), 012014. https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1285/1/012014
Ramsiya, M., Joseph, A., Eappen, K., & Visnuprasad, A. (2019). Activity concentrations of radionuclides in soil samples along the coastal areas of Kerala, India and the assessment of radiation hazard indices. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 320(2), 291–298. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-019-06481-1
Ravisankar, R., Chandrasekaran, A., Vijayagopal, P., Venkatraman, B., Senthilkumar, G., Eswaran, P., & Rajalakshmi, A. (2012). Natural radioactivity in soil samples of Yelagiri Hills, Tamil Nadu, India and the associated radiation hazards. Radiation Physics and Chemistry, 81(12), 1789–1795. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radphyschem.2012.07.003
Ravisankar, R., Vanasundari, K., Suganya, M., Raghu, Y., Rajalakshmi, A., Chandrasekaran, A., & Venkatraman, B. (2014). Multivariate statistical analysis of radiological data of building materials used in Tiruvannamalai, Tamilnadu, India. Applied Radiation and Isotopes, 85, 114–127. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apradiso.2013.12.005
Ródenas, C., Soto, J., & Gómez-Arozamena, J. (1994). Natural radioactivity in Spanish soils. Health Physics, 66(2), 194–200. https://journals.lww.com/health-physics/Abstract/1994/02000/Natural_Radioactivity_in_Spanish_Soils.10.aspx
Salathe, M., Quiter, B., Bandstra, M., Curtis, J., Meyer, R., & Chow, C. (2021). Determining urban material activities with a vehicle-based multi-sensor system. Physical Review Research, 3(2), 023070. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.3.023070
Sanjuán, M. Á., Suárez-Navarro, J. A., Argiz, C., & Mora, P. (2020). Assessment of natural radioactivity and radiation hazards owing to coal fly ash and natural pozzolan Portland cements. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 325(2), 381–390. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-020-07263-w
Shrestha, A. K., Shrestha, G. K., Shah, B. R., & Koirala, R. P. (2023). Evaluation of natural radioactivity and radiological hazards associated with Nepalese cement. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 1–9,. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-023-09124-8
Srinivasa, E., Rangaswamy, D., & Sannappa, J. (2019). Assessment of radiological hazards and effective dose from natural radioactivity in rock samples of Hassan district. Karnataka. India. Environmental Earth Sciences, 78(14), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-019-8465-z
Suresh, S., Rangaswamy, D., Sannappa, J., Dongre, S., Srinivasa, E., & Rajesh, S. (2022). Estimation of natural radioactivity and assessment of radiation hazard indices in soil samples of Uttara Kannada district, Karnataka, India. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 331(4), 1869–1879. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-021-08145-5
Suresh, S., Rangaswamy, D., Srinivasa, E., & Sannappa, J. (2020). Measurement of radon concentration in drinking water and natural radioactivity in soil and their radiological hazards. Journal of Radiation Research and Applied Sciences, 13(1), 12–26. https://doi.org/10.1080/16878507.2019.1693175
Tchorz-Trzeciakiewicz, D., Kozłowska, B., & Walencik-Łata, A. (2023). Seasonal variations of terrestrial gamma dose, natural radionuclides and human health. Chemosphere, 310, 136908. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.136908
UNSCEAR (2000). Sources and effects of ionizing radiation, United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) 2000 Report, Volume I: Report to the General Assembly, with Scientific Annexes-Sources. United Nations. https://doi.org/10.18356/49c437f9-en
UNSCEAR (2010). Report of the United Nations Scientific Committee on the effects of atomic radiation. Fifty-seventh sessions, includes scientific report: Summary of low-dose radiation effects on health. United Nations.
Venoso, G., Iacoponi, A., Pratesi, G., Guazzini, M., Boccini, L., Corbani, E., et al. (2021). Impact of temporal variability of radon concentration in workplaces on the actual radon exposure during working hours. Scientific Reports, 11(1), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-96207-9
Vidal, P., Cocherie, A. . Le. ., & Fort, P. (1982). Geochemical investigations of the origin of the Manaslu leucogranite (Himalaya, Nepal). Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 46(11), 2279–2292. https://doi.org/10.1016/0016-7037(82)90201-0
Wallova, G., Acharya, K., & Wallner, G. (2010). Determination of naturally occurring radionuclides in selected rocks from Hetaunda area, Central Nepal. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 283(3), 713–718. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-009-0401-3
Wang, Z., & Ye, Y. (2021). Assessment of soil radioactivity levels and radiation hazards in Guangyao Village, South China. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 329(2), 679–693. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-021-07818-5
Xinwei, L., & Xiaolan, Z. (2006). Measurement of natural radioactivity in sand samples collected from the Baoji Weihe Sands Park, China. Environmental Geology, 50, 977–982. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-006-0266-5
Yalcin, F., Ilbeyli, N., Demirbilek, M., Yalcin, M. G., Gunes, A., Kaygusuz, A., & Ozmen, S. F. (2020). Estimation of natural radionuclides’ concentration of the plutonic rocks in the Sakarya Zone. Turkey using multivariate statistical methods. Symmetry, 12(6), 1048. https://doi.org/10.3390/sym12061048
Zaim, N., & Atlas, H. (2016). Assessment of radioactivity levels and radiation hazards using gamma spectrometry in soil samples of Edirne, Turkey. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 310(3), 959–967. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-016-4908-0
Acknowledgements
Author D. R. Upadhyay acknowledges the University Grants Commission, Nepal, for the PhD Fellowship and Research Support Fund (award number PhD-78/79-S &T-14). Similarly, G. Koirala wants to acknowledge the National Youth Council, Nepal for M.Sc. dissertation research support and the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) for providing lab facilities. D. R. Upadhyay, G. Koirala, and R. Khanal acknowledge the support from the International Atomic Energy Agency, Austria (IAEA, TC Project NEP0002), for support in establishing a nuclear laboratory with computational facilities and the Ministry of Education and Science and Technology, Government of Nepal, for coordination with IAEA. We want to acknowledge the Geographic Information Infrastructure Division, Survey Department, Government of Nepal, for providing the necessary maps at different levels.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
DRU: conceptualization, methodology, laboratory work, validation, data analysis, visualization, writing —original draft. GK: field work, laboratory work, data analysis, reporting, writing. BRS: laboratory resource, review, and editing. SMT: review and editing. RK: methodology, resources, validation, visualization, writing, review and editing, supervision.
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors declare no competing interests.
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
Upadhyay, D.R., Koirala, G., Shah, B.R. et al. Assessing radioactive contaminants in Kathmandu soils: measurement and risk analysis. Environ Monit Assess 196, 190 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-023-12284-5
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-023-12284-5