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Natural radioactivity at beach sands in Ilha Grande, Southeastern Brazil

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Abstract

In order to analyze temporal variability on the gamma dose absorbed in the air in beaches in Ilha Grande, Brazil, in 2011–2012 new measurements were made in four of ten beaches analyzed previously in 2001. The measurements were performed directly with a proportional detector. The values varied between 47 ± 5 (Lopes Mendes) and 97 ± 11 nGyh−1 (Caxadaço) Praia Preta. The average annual effective dose was 0.08 ± 0.02 mSv year−1 , in line with the world average of effective external doses, 0.07 mSv year−1 according to UNSCEAR. No statistically significant change was observed after 10 years.

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Acknowledgements

The authors express their gratitude to Center for Environmental Studies and Sustainable Development—CEADS/UERJ for the use of its staff. Lima, A.C. thank to Carlos Chagas Filho Foundation for Research Support of the State of Rio de Janeiro—FAPERJ (E-26/100.575/212) and Rio de Janeiro State University—UERJ (PIBIC/UERJ-2011) for scholarships granted.

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Correspondence to Marcus Vinícius Licínio.

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Licínio, M.V., Alencar, A.S., Lima, A.C. et al. Natural radioactivity at beach sands in Ilha Grande, Southeastern Brazil. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 327, 1277–1281 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-020-07587-7

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