Measurement of Natural and Artificial Radioactivity in Soil at Some Selected Thanas around the TRIGA Mark-II Research Reactor at AERE, Savar, Dhaka

Shawpan C Sarkar,Mahbubur R Bhuiyan,Debasish Paul,Idris Ali,Sheikh M A Islam

doi:10.4236/jep.2011.210156

Abstract

The activity concentration of natural and fallout radionuclides in the soil at some selected Thanas around the TRIGA Mark-II Research Reactor at Atomic Energy Research Establishment (AERE), Savar, Dhaka were measured by using a high purity germanium detector (HPGe). The study revealed that only natural radionuclides were present in the samples and no trace of any artificial radionuclide was found. The average activity concentration of 238U, 232Th and 40K were found to be 37.8 ± 5.6 Bq.kg-1, 58.2 ± 11.0 Bq.kg-1 and 790.8 ± 153.4 Bq.kg-1 respectively. The radium equivalent activity (Req), absorbed dose rate (D), external radiation hazard index (Hex) and internal radiation hazard index (Hin) were also calculated to find out the probable radiological hazard of the natural radioactivity.

Highlights

The activity concentration of natural and fallout radionuclides in the soil at some selected Thanas around the TRIGA Mark-II Research Reactor at Atomic Energy Research Establishment (AERE), Savar, Dhaka were measured by using a high purity germanium detector (HPGe)
The activity concentration of 238U ranged from 25.5 ± 5.4 to 64.4 ± 6 with an average value of 37.8 ± 5.6 Bq·kg–1
The activity concentration of 232Th ranged from 40.8 ± 10.1 to 77.4 ± 11.2 with an average value of 58.2 ± 11.0 Bq·kg–1

Summary

Introduction

Significant amount of artificial (man-made) radioactivity is emitted by nuclear power plant, industrial plant and research facilities. Significant amount of manmade radionuclides 137Cs and 90Sr may present in soil as a result of nuclear weapon testing in the atmosphere, accidents (such as the Chernobyl power plant accident) and the routine discharge of radionuclides from nuclear installations [1]. It takes 300 year for it to fragment completely. The biggest part of 137Cs is accumulated in the upper layer of the soil and forest floor [2]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion