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Geographic distribution of K-40 in soils in Canada

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Abstract

Background levels of K-40 on non-cultivated soils in Quebec and in several northern sites elsewhere in Canada are presented. The activity of K-40 was measured at 34 sites. The specific activity levels ranged from 59 to 801 Bq kg−1 with an overall mean of 396±195 Bq kg−1. This activity generates the annual dose equivalent of 0.1 mSv. In most cases (24 out of 34), the concentration of K-40 slightly decreases with the increasing depth. The activities were found to be approximately normally distributed. There is a regional difference between the concentrations of K-40 in soils in northern and southern Quebec.

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  1. École Polytechnique de Montreal, succ. centre-ville, C.P. 6070, H3C 3A7, Montréal, Québec, Canada

    L. Zikovsky & R. Blagoeva

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  1. L. Zikovsky
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  2. R. Blagoeva
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Zikovsky, L., Blagoeva, R. Geographic distribution of K-40 in soils in Canada. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry Letters 187, 423–430 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02165771

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02165771

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