Natural Radionuclide in soil samples and radiation dose to the population of Chamarajanagar district, Karnataka State, India

This study is intended to assess activity of the natural radionuclide in natural soil and rock in study area and to estimate the radiological parameters such as radium equivalent activity, external hazard index and absorbed dose rate, which are related to the external γ-dose rate to assess the radiological hazards to human health and for checking its quality in general and knowing its effect on the environment. The measured activity concentrations for these natural radionuclides were compared with the reported data for other countries. The data obtained are essential for development of standards and guidelines concerning the use and management of soil and rock materials for construction of building and other purposes. In the present study, measurement of activity concentration of natural radionuclides 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in natural soil samples by using the method gamma ray spectrometry method, in some locations of Chamarajanagar district, in Karnataka state India, were made. The activity concentrations of radionuclides in the soil samples of the study area varied in the range from 4.85-14.15Bqkg-1, 21.59-47.27Bqkg-1, 19.87-47.79Bqkg-1, respectively for 226Ra, 232Th and 40K. Annual effective dose due to gamma radiation emitted by 226Ra, 232Th and 40K present in soil varies from 2.44-5.86μSvy-1.