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Variation of natural radioactivity in soil and water samples of Garhwal Himalaya, India

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Abstract

In this paper, we present the variation of natural radioactivity in soil and water samples of Tehri Garhwal district of Garhwal Himalaya. The soil and water samples collected from different locations were studied and analyzed using Gamma ray spectrometry and Laser Fluoremetry techniques, respectively. The activity concentrations 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in the soil samples were found to vary 31 ± 6 to 67 ± 7 Bq kg−1 with an average 46 Bq kg−1, 38 ± 7 to 86 ± 10 Bq kg−1 with an average of 52 Bq kg−1 and 612 ± 120 to 1277 ± 168 Bq kg−1 with an average of 902 Bq kg−1, respectively. Uranium concentration in water samples was found to vary from BDL to 2 ppb with an average 0.6 ppb. The above measured values uranium in drinking water ware also be compare the uranium concentrations in drinking water in Ukimath area. The measured values of activity concentrations in the soil and water samples were found within permissible limits.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, H.N.B. Garhwal University, Badshahi Thaul Campus, Tehri Garhwal, 249199, India

    Manjulata Yadav, Mukesh Prasad & R. C. Ramola

  2. Department of Chemistry, H.N.B. Garhwal University, Badshahi Thaul Campus, Tehri Garhwal, 249199, India

    Sanjay Dutt

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  1. Manjulata Yadav
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  2. Mukesh Prasad
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  3. Sanjay Dutt
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  4. R. C. Ramola
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Correspondence to Manjulata Yadav.

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Yadav, M., Prasad, M., Dutt, S. et al. Variation of natural radioactivity in soil and water samples of Garhwal Himalaya, India. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 331, 1951–1958 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-021-08147-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-021-08147-3

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