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Natural radionuclides distribution, depth profiles of caesium-137 and risk assessment for soil samples in west regions of China

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Abstract

An analysis of natural radioactivity in soils collected around Chinese Nuclear Test site is presented. The radioactivities of 238U, 226Ra, 232Th, 40K, and 137Cs were determined by HPGe gamma-ray spectrometry, and potential radiological hazards were evaluated. The depth profiles of radionuclides in three selected areas of Gansu were analyzed, and a new method for detection of 137Cs specific activities were measured using ultra-low background gamma spectrometer named GeTHU-II developed by Tsinghua University at China Jinping Underground Laboratory. The radioactivity concentrations of 137Cs were significantly different in these three areas and gradually decreased from surface to underground 15 cm.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to express their gratitude to Gansu CDC, Xinjiang CDC and Tibet CDC for their assistance in collecting samples.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Institute for Radiological Protection, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 100088, China

    Fei Tuo, Xuan Peng, Qiang Zhou, BaoLu Yang & Jing Zhang

  2. Department of Engineering Physics, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China

    Zhi Zeng

  3. National Institute of Metrology, Beijing, 100029, China

    Xuan Zhang

Authors
  1. Fei Tuo
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  2. Xuan Peng
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  3. Zhi Zeng
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  4. Xuan Zhang
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Correspondence to Fei Tuo.

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Tuo, F., Peng, X., Zeng, Z. et al. Natural radionuclides distribution, depth profiles of caesium-137 and risk assessment for soil samples in west regions of China. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 327, 831–838 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-020-07551-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-020-07551-5

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