Estimation of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K activity from the Soil Samples of Ganderbal and Budgam Districts of Jammu and Kashmir, India

The study of radionuclides is very important in our daily life as these impose health implications to the general public. In present study the estimation of radionuclides in Ganderbal and Budgam districts of Kashmir Province using NaI(Tl) gamma-ray spectrometer has been carried out. Radium, thorium, and potassium activity concentrations have been observed to range from 25±3 to 33±5 Bqkg⁻¹, 3±2 to 11±3 Bqkg⁻¹ and 415±63 to 601±80 Bqkg⁻¹with average values of 29 Bqkg⁻¹, 5 Bqkg⁻¹ and 514 Bqkg⁻¹, respectively. The radium equivalent activity (Ra_eq) for the soil samples has been evaluated and was found in the range of 107 to 128 Bqkg⁻¹ with the mean value of 116 Bqkg⁻¹. It has been inferred that the radium equivalent activity (Ra_eq) lies in the permissible limits of 370 Bqkg⁻¹ set by United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation. Absorbed dose and annual effective dose (indoor and outdoor) values were found to vary from 34 to 43 nGyh⁻¹, 0.17 to 0.21 mSv and 0.04 to 0.05 mSv, respectively. Also, hazard indices (external and internal) are calculated from the specific concentration of radium, thorium and potassium which are found less than unity as recommended by organization for economic cooperation and development (OECD). Therefore, it can be concluded that the present study area does not pose any health implication to the general public.