Abstract
The distribution of natural radionuclide γ -ray activities and their respective annual effective dose rates, produced by 40K, 226Ra and 232Th, were determined for sand samples collected along the coast of four Brazilian States: São Paulo (SP), Rio de Janeiro (RJ), Espírito Santo (ES) and Bahia (BA). For some specific beaches, the values of the annual effective dose rates or γ -ray radiation hazard indices exceed the average worldwide exposure of 2.4 mSv y - 1 due to natural sources and the limits proposed by Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development for building materials. The average values of the radium equivalent activities were evaluated and found to be 696 Bq kg - 1 in Mambucaba (RJ), 1621 Bq kg - 1 in Buena (RJ), 2289 Bq kg - 1 in Anchieta (ES), 10 205 Bq kg - 1 in Meaipe (ES), 83 425 Bq kg - 1 in Guarapari (ES), 531 Bq kg - 1 in Vitória (ES), 2026 Bq kg - 1 in Serra (ES), 3240 Bq kg - 1 in São Mateus (ES), 3075 Bq kg - 1 in Porto Seguro (BA) and 1841 Bq kg - 1 in Itacaré (BA). These values are above the limit of 370 Bq kg - 1 recommended for the safe use of building materials for dwellings by OECD.
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