Measurement and analysis of the concentration of radioactivity in soil on playgrounds of Korean elementary schools

Abstract

The aim of this study was to obtain nationwide data on the distribution of radiation and radioactivity in a normal environment and to draw a comparison chart of the characteristics and the distributions in provincial areas in Korea. An additional aim was to employ the results as basic data to help improve radioactivity analysis technology, people’s health and the national environment. For soil sampling, 160 elementary schools were selected based on a division of the Korean Peninsula by area and latitude before taking soil samples from the playgrounds of the schools selected for analysis. The analysis used high-purity Ge (HPGe) detectors and multi-channel analyzers (MCAs) to measure the concentrations of 137Cs (Cs-137) and 40K (K-40) radioactivity. According to the results of the radioactivity measurements for K-40 in the soil of each area, the measured K-40 concentration was highest in Incheon Metropolitan City. The radioactivity concentration of 137Cs (Cs-137) in the soil was highest in North Jeolla Province. In regard to the soil classified according to latitude, the radioactivity concentration measurements for K-40 were highest at latitude 37° where as the highest Cs-137 concentrations were measured at latitude 33°. The correlation between the radioactivity concentration of K-40 and Cs-137 in soil with latitude was <0.5, indicating no significant meaning. These results can be used as basic data to improve radioactivity analysis technology, as well as people’s health and the national environment.