Abstract
The natural radionuclide γ-ray activities and the gamma-absorbed dose rates, produced by 226Ra, 232Th and 40K were determined in sands collected from four big rivers in Xi'an, China, using γ -ray spectrometry. The activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in sand samples ranges from 11.0 to 41.3 Bq kg−1, 16.3 to 52.3 Bq kg−1 and 618.5 to 1186.6 Bq kg−1, respectively. The concentrations of these radionuclides are compared with the typical world values and the average activity of Chinese soil and Shaanxi soil. Radium equivalent activities (Raeq), external hazard index (H ex) and representative level index (I γ r) are calculated for the samples to assess the radiation hazards arising due to the use of these sand samples in the construction of dwellings. All the sand samples have Raeq activity lower than the limit of 370 Bq kg−1, H ex less than unity and I γ r close to 1 Bq kg−1. The overall mean outdoor terrestrial gamma dose rate is 65.0 nGy h−1 and the corresponding outdoor annual effective dose is 0.080 mSv. None of the studied riverbeds are considered a radiological risk and sand can be safely used in construction.
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