Determination of natural radioactivity, hazard parameters and physico-chemical properties of soils from Palakkad-Thrissur district, Kerala, India

Abstract

Assessment of natural radioactivity (226Ra, 232Th, and 40K) and related radiation hazards play an important role in human health research and have received much attention from worldwide researchers. Soil is one of the key sources of human exposure to ionizing radiations. There has recently been a growing demand for soil data and information. This study aims to assess the radioactivity concentration and related parameters in the environment of Kuthiran hills due to radionuclides in soil samples collected from various locations around the Thrissur-Palakkad Highway (NH-544) regions in Kerala state (India). The activity concentrations of soil samples were determined by a gamma ray spectrometry system consisting of a p-type HPGe detector, with relative efficiency of 40%. The mean activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K were found to be 47.24 Bqkg−1, 67.49 Bqkg−1, and 810.87 Bqkg−1, respectively. These values are well within the permissible range, as recommended by the UNSCEAR 2008. The soil samples with the highest activity concentrations were primarily found in the valley region. The calculated hazard indices were used to estimate the potential radiological health risk from the soil, and the dose rates associated with it are significantly lower than their permissible limit. The overall findings indicate no radiological threat to the population's health in the study area.