Natural radionuclides and radiological risk assessment in the stream and river sediments of a high background natural radiation area Kanyakumari, India.
Environ Monit Assess
; 196(3): 330, 2024 Mar 01.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38427152
ABSTRACT
The Kanyakumari coast is known to be a high background natural radiation area due to the placer deposits of heavy minerals such as ilmenite, monazite, and rutile. The Kanyakumari river sediments that could be the source of the elevated amounts of natural radionuclides in the coastal sands have been studied in this paper. The activity concentrations of primordial radionuclides 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K were determined using high-purity germanium (HPGe) gamma-ray spectrometry. The mean activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K were found to be 75 Bq kg-1, 565 Bq kg-1, and 360 Bq kg-1, respectively. The mean absorbed dose rate was 395 nGy h-1. Radiological hazard parameters were studied and compared with the world average values. The contribution of 232Th to the total dose rate was found to be higher than that of the two other radionuclides. The high mean ratio of 232Th/226Ra suggested an enrichment of 232Th and the occurrence of 226Ra leaching due to an oxidizing environment. Principal component analysis (PCA) was carried out for the radionuclides in order to discriminate the source of the sediments. This study provides new insights into the distribution of natural radionuclides in sediments of rivers and streams.
Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Contexto em Saúde:
15_ODS3_global_health_risks
/
2_ODS3
Problema de saúde:
15_technological_hazards
/
2_quimicos_contaminacion
Assunto principal:
Poluentes Radioativos do Solo
/
Monitoramento de Radiação
País/Região como assunto:
Asia
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Environ Monit Assess
Assunto da revista:
SAUDE AMBIENTAL
Ano de publicação:
2024
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Japão