Vol. 1, Issue 9, Part L (2015)
Evaluation of radioactivity in soils of Chidambaram taluk of Cuddalore district (Tamil Nadu, India)
Evaluation of radioactivity in soils of Chidambaram taluk of Cuddalore district (Tamil Nadu, India)
Author(s)
G Sankaran Pillai, SM Mazhar Nazeeb Khan, P Shahul Hameed, V Arutchelvan
Abstract
The main objective of the present study is to establish a data base on distribution of primordial radionuclides activity in the virgin and cultivated soil samples of Chidambaram taluk were carried out employing gamma ray spectrometer and Solid State Nuclear Track Detector (SSNTD) technique. The results indicated that, the mean activity concentration of 238U in cultivated soil (7.1 Bq kg-1) was 25 % higher than that of virgin soil (5.7 Bq kg-1), while the mean 232Th and 40K concentration in cultivated soils were not elevated. The mean Radium equivalent (Raeq) value for virgin and cultivated soil samples were found to be 91.2 Bq kg-1and 93.5 Bq kg-1respectively. Application of phosphate fertilizers may the responsible for the elevated level of 238U in cultivated soil. However, the mean absorbed gamma dose rate for soil samples are (42.2 nGy h-1 and 42.3 nGy h-1) well below the permissible limit of 55 370 nGy h-1. All other radiological parameters were also calculated and the study concludes that the study area falls under Normal Background Radiation Area (NBRA).
How to cite this article:
G Sankaran Pillai, SM Mazhar Nazeeb Khan, P Shahul Hameed, V Arutchelvan. Evaluation of radioactivity in soils of Chidambaram taluk of Cuddalore district (Tamil Nadu, India). Int J Appl Res 2015;1(9):758-765.