Study of environmental radioactivity in soil samples

Abstract

The surface soil samples were collected from 42 different locations in Rangpur and Dinajpur at a depth of 0-5 em. Total beta activitics of thc samplcs wcrc mcasurcd using Low Beta Counter. Activity concentrations of the radionuclides 2JXU, 232Th, mCs and 40K were determined from gamma ray spectrum of the soil. The average gross activity was found to be 38.61 ct 4.55 pCi/g with a range of 30.17 ct 4.30 pCi/g to 50.42 ct 4.82 pCi/g for the soil of Rangpur. The average beta activity was found to be 33.94 ct 4.21 pCi/g ranging from 27.10 ct 4.41 pCi/g to 46.95 ct 4.60 pCi/g Ill("the soil of Dinaipul'. The mcan activities of 2JXU. 2.12Th, IJJCS and <10K were 42.65 ct 2.34. 45.58 ct 5.19. 6.55 ct 0.6 and 652.91 ct 50.37 Bq/kg from thc soil of Rangpur and 37.06 ct 2.01,44.13 ct 4.66, 5.05 ct 0.53 and 543.90 ct 45.36 Bq/kg ii'om the soil of Dinajpur respectively. IJJCS was found only in seven samples out of 32 and these were very low. This implies that there is no environmental radiation effect in Bangladesh due to nuclear fallout. Considerably clcvated concentrations of2JHU, 232Th and 40K were found comparcdto countries.