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Radioactivity concentration and risk indices in intertidal sediments of the Red River Delta, Vietnam

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Abstract

The radioactive concentrations of 40K, 232Th and 226Ra in 11 intertidal sediment cores in the Red River Delta were determined, and radiological hazard indices for environmental risk were assessed. The values of 40K, 232Th and 226Ra activity were 656 Bq/kg, 49.8 Bq/kg and 37.0 Bq/kg, respectively. The values of radiological hazard indices such as radium equivalent activity (Raeq), absorbed dose rate (ADR), equivalent annual effective dose (AEDE), representative gamma index (Iγr), index active use, external hazard index (Hex), annual gonadal equivalent dose (AGDE) were 158.7 Bq/kg, 74.5 nGy/h, 0.09 mSv/year, 1.18, 1.0, 0.40, and 496.4 µSv/year, respectively. The results obtained of this study showed that eleven sediment cores can be divided into two groups, of which the radioactive concentrations of 40K, 232Th and 226Ra in group 2 were higher than in group 1, and the concentration of radionuclides in sediments was higher than the global average, except for 226Ra in group 1. The ADR, AEDE, Iγr and AGDE indices were above UNSCEAR’s recommended levels for both groups. The results of this study show that sediments have the potential to impact organisms in the intertidal zone and are safe for use as construction materials.

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Acknowledgements

The projects were funded by the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) (ĐTĐLCN.14/23) and the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST) (VAST05.06/23-24). The authors would like to thank MOST and VAST.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate University of Science and Technology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST), Ha Noi City, Vietnam

    Bui Van Vuong, Tran Duc Thanh, Nguyen Thi Hue & Dang Hoai Nhon

  2. Institute of Marine Environment and Resources, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST), Hai Phong City, Vietnam

    Bui Van Vuong, Tran Duc Thanh, Nguyen Dac Ve, Duong Thanh Nghi, Nguyen Thi Mai Luu, Hoang Thi Chien & Dang Hoai Nhon

  3. Dalat Nuclear Research Institute, Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute (VINATOM), Da Lat City, Lam Dong Province, Vietnam

    Phan Son Hai & Le Nhu Sieu

  4. Institute of Chemistry, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST), Ha Noi City, Vietnam

    Nguyen Van Chien

  5. Institute of Environmental Technology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST), Ha Noi City, Vietnam

    Nguyen Thi Hue

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  1. Bui Van Vuong
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Contributions

Conception and design: Dang Hoai Nhon, Phan Son Hai, Tran Duc Thanh, Bui Van Vuong. The material preparation, data collection, and analyses were performed by Dang Hoai Nhon, Nguyen Dac Ve; Nguyen Van Chien, Bui Van Vuong; Nguyen Thi Mai Luu, Hoang Thi Chien, Le Nhu Sieu, Nguyen Thi Hue. The first draft of the manuscript and revised was written by Dang Hoai Nhon, Phan Son Hai. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Dang Hoai Nhon.

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Van Vuong, B., Hai, P.S., Van Chien, N. et al. Radioactivity concentration and risk indices in intertidal sediments of the Red River Delta, Vietnam. Environ Earth Sci 83, 74 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-023-11394-0

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