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Natural radioactivity in soils of Elephant hills, Tamilnadu, India

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Abstract

The aim of the present work is to determine the activity concentrations of natural radionuclides and the associated radiation hazards in soils of Elephant hills, Tamil Nadu, India using gamma-ray spectrometry. The average activity concentrations of 238U, 232Th and 40K are 52, 48, and 840 Bq kg−1respectively. The average dose rate of 89 nGy h−1 is nearly 1.5 times higher than the outdoor world average, but the average annual effective dose equivalent (AEDE) is less than the recommended limit of unity. Pearson correlation analysis indicates that 40K does not contribute to radioactivity in these soils.

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Acknowledgements

Financial support from Board of Research and Nuclear Sciences-Department of Atomic Energy (BRNS-DAE), Trombay, India for purchase of equipment to carry out the experimental work is greatly appreciated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, Sri Sivasubramaniya Nadar College of Engineering, Kalavakkam, Tamilnadu, 603110, India

    B. Jananee, A. Rajalakshmi, V. Thangam & V. Sathish

  2. Institute for Ocean Management, Anna University, Chennai, 600025, India

    K. Manikanda Bharath

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  2. A. Rajalakshmi
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  4. K. Manikanda Bharath
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Correspondence to A. Rajalakshmi.

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Jananee, B., Rajalakshmi, A., Thangam, V. et al. Natural radioactivity in soils of Elephant hills, Tamilnadu, India. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 329, 1261–1268 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-021-07886-7

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