Abstract
Primordial radionuclides in sand sediments that are often used as constructing materials are one of the sources of radiation hazard in dwellings. Activity concentrations of the primordial radionuclides of 40K, 226Ra and 232Th have been measured in sand sediments collected from streams and streamlets lying within and around the uranium mineralization deposit blocks of Kylleng-Pyndensohiong, Mawthabah Areas of West Khasi Hills District, Meghalaya, India. The technique of gamma-ray spectroscopy using a NaI(Tl) detector with a PC-based multi channel analyser was applied for determination of the activity concentrations. The activity of the sand sediments obtained in this study ranges from 95.3 to 1,088.8 Bq kg−1 for 40K; 38.3 to 784.1 Bq kg−1 for 226Ra and 78.0 to 316.1 Bq kg−1 for 232Th. Sand sediments from two sampling locations lying within the mineralization zone show highest concentrations of these radionuclides. The radiological hazards of the sand sediments were calculated using various models given in the literature. The radium equivalent activity was found to be higher than the accepted standard criterion value of 370 Bq kg−1 and the values of external and internal hazard indices were also found to be higher than unity in these two sampling locations. Besides these two sampling locations, a sampling location lying at a nearby distance from the mineralization zone also exhibits hazard indices values greater than unity.
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The author(s) duly acknowledge Shri H.S. Kushwaha, Dir., HS&EG, BARC, Mumbai and Shri V.D. Puranik, Head, EAD, BARC, Mumbai, Dr. R.M. Tripathi, EAD, BARC, Mumbai, Dr. S.K. Jha, EAD, BARC, Mumbai, Prof. B. Kharbuli, Department of Zoology, NEHU, Shillong and Dr. A.K. Das, Department of Basic Sciences, NEHU, Shillong for their constant encouragement, valuable suggestions and guidance provided throughout the period of work. Thanks also go to Shri N. Nongrem and Shri M. Kurbah for their help which they have rendered in carrying out the sample collection from the study area.
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War, S.A., Nongkynrih, P., Khathing, D.T. et al. Assessment of the radiological hazards of sand sediments collected from streams and streamlets of the uranium deposit areas in West Khasi Hills District, Meghalaya, India. Environ Earth Sci 65, 1695–1703 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-011-1147-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-011-1147-0