A preliminary study on the environmental monitoring, and estimation of the environmental dose in a high natural background radiation area of Ramsar, Iran.
Sedigheh Sina, Mehrnoosh Karimipourfard, Fatemeh Lotfalizadeh, Zahra Rakeb, Fatemeh N Alizadeh, Amirali Falakian
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
High natural background radiation areas (HNBRAs) worldwide contribute additional radiation doses to humans, plants, and land animals. Among these regions, Talesh Mahalleh in Ramsar, Iran, is notable for having the highest levels of natural background radiation in the world. This study aimed to assess the natural radioactivity in this region. The study was performed in three phases: (i) analyzing the activity concentrations of radioactive elements in samples of soil, water, and plants, collected from various parts of Talesh Mahalleh, by gamma spectroscopy using a high-purity germanium detector. (ii) Measurement of the environmental radiation doses in different locations of the high background area using thermoluminescence dosimetry (TLD), for 2 months. (iii) The environmental radiation monitoring using a calibrated survey meter. The concentrations of natural radioactive materials, like Ra-226, Th-232, and K-40 activity were measured in soil, water, and plants. Based on the results, the maximum concentration of Ra-226 in the soil samples prepared from Talesh Mahalleh was found to be 16 687 Bq/kg. The survey meter indicated the dose rates of 2.51 to 8.43 μSv/h in the high background area of Talesh Mahalleh, which is much higher than the average natural background in the world. The results of TLD are in consistent with the online environmental monitoring. This preliminary research highlights the critical need for further studies on the measurement of external and internal dosimetry for terrestrial animals of this HNBRA.
期刊介绍:
Radiation Protection Dosimetry covers all aspects of personal and environmental dosimetry and monitoring, for both ionising and non-ionising radiations. This includes biological aspects, physical concepts, biophysical dosimetry, external and internal personal dosimetry and monitoring, environmental and workplace monitoring, accident dosimetry, and dosimetry related to the protection of patients. Particular emphasis is placed on papers covering the fundamentals of dosimetry; units, radiation quantities and conversion factors. Papers covering archaeological dating are included only if the fundamental measurement method or technique, such as thermoluminescence, has direct application to personal dosimetry measurements. Papers covering the dosimetric aspects of radon or other naturally occurring radioactive materials and low level radiation are included. Animal experiments and ecological sample measurements are not included unless there is a significant relevant content reason.