Measurement of radioactivity levels and determination of radiological hazard risks in areas of irrigated vegetable agriculture soils Southwestern Lake Hawassa, Sidama Region, Ethiopia

Abstract

The activity concentrations of naturally occurring radioisotopes 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K were measured using a gamma-ray spectrometer and were above the worldwide permissible values of 35, 45, and 420 Bq, respectively. The results of the radiological hazard risks were above the worldwide permissible values of 59 nGy, 0.07 mSv, and, respectively, and people who work in irrigated vegetable agriculture soil areas appear to be at high risk of radiological health and serve as an essential radiometric baseline for continuing initiatives in environmental monitoring.