Assessment of natural radioactivity in soil samples of Dez river sides â Khouzestan province

Nasri Nasrabadi,; Hajialiani,; Mostajaboddavati,

Assessment of natural radioactivity in soil samples of Dez river sides â Khouzestan province

Authors

Mehdi Nasri Nasrabadi

Hajialiani

Mostajaboddavati

Abstract

Geographical features of each region of the world affect the activity concentration of natural radionuclides such as uranium, thorium and potassium. In this study, 26 soil samples were randomly collected from sides of the Dez River and transferred to the Laboratory for preparation. Activity concentration of natural radioactive materials was measured using p-type HPGe detector with a 38% relative efficiency. The results indicated that radioactivity concentration of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in soil samples varied over a range of 15.97 - 32.87Bqkg-1, 8.04 - 33. 85 Bqkg-1 and 106.82 - 471.35 Bqkg-1, respectively while their mean values were 25.21, 19.71 and 289.57Bqkg-1 in that order. Statistical results at 5% internal error showed that the mean values of radionuclides' activity concentrations were lower than their defined ones--the average values of the world and Iran. The results of radiological parameters predicted no radioactivity danger in the region.

Keywords

Dez river

Khuzestan

gamma-ray spectroscopy

natural radioactive materials

specific activity

soil

R C Ramola et al., Radiol Prot. 28 (2008) 379.
2. N Damla, U Cevik, A I Kobya, B Ataksor, and U Isik, Environ. Monit. Assess. 160 (2010) 401.
3. V Ramasamy, S Senthil, V Meenakshisundaram, and V Gajendran, Appl. Sci. 20 (2009) 54.
4. X Lu, X Zhang, and F wang, Environ. Geol. 53 (2008) 1475.
5. I Bikit et al., Radiat. Measur. 41 (2006) 477.
6. N Cukrov, M Mlakar, V Cuculic, and D Barisic, Environ. Radioact. 100 (2009) 497.
7. M Degerlier, G Karahan, and G Ozger, Environ. Radioact. 99 (2008) 1018.
8. M R Abdi, S Hassanzadeh, M Kamali, and H R Raji, Mar. Pollut. Bull. 58 (2009) 658.
9. H Faghihian, D Rahi, and M Mostajaboddavati, Radioanal. Nucl. Chem. 32 (2011) 1.
10. S Khoshbinfar and M Vahabi Moghaddam, Radiat. Prot. Dosim. 142 (2010) 332.
11. M R Abdi, M Kamali, and S Vaezifar, Mar. Pollut. Bull. 56 (2008)751.
12. M R Abdi et al., Iran J. Sci. Tec. 30 (2006) 259.
13. F Saghatchi et al., Radiat. Prot. Dosim. 141 (2010) 86.
14. J Pourahmad et al., Environ Toxicology 23 (2008) 583.
15. S Hafezi, J Amidi, and A Attarilar, Iran. Radiat. Res. 3 (2005) 85.
16. M R Abdi, H Faghihian, A hasanzadeh, M kamali, Radioanal and Nucl. Chem. 270 (2006) 319.
17. M Abbaspour et al., Radiat. Prot. Dosim. 142 (2010) 187.
18. R Faghihi, S Mehdizadeh, and S Sina, Radiat. Prot. Dosim. 145 (2011) 66.
19. H Yucel, M Cetiner, and H Demirel, Nucl. Inst. Meth. Phys. Research Sect. 413 (1998) 74.
20. W Strasse, IAEA-TECDOC-1415 375 (2004) 1.
21. H Al-Sulaiti, N Alkhomashi, N AL-Dahan, M Al-Dosari, D A Bradley, Nucl. Inst. Meth. Phys. Research 652 (2011) 915.
22. M Hasan et al., Water Air Soil Pollut. 219 (2010)129.
23. R Mehra et al., Environ. Earth. Sci. 59 (2009) 1159