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Assessment of radionuclide concentration and exhalation studies in soil of lesser Himalayas of Jammu and Kashmir, India

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Abstract

Because to extensive utilization of soil as a building/construction stuff, the activities of 238U, 40K, 232Th, and exhalation studies in solid samples have been measured using thallium activated sodium iodide (NaI(Tl)) gamma detector and scintillation-based smart RnDuo monitor. The measured activity concentration of radionuclides lies in the range of 2.76–38.96, 12.47–65.70, and 199–450 Bq/kg for uranium (CU), thorium (CTh), and potassium (CK), respectively. The annual effective dose rate due to radionuclides is within the secure limit suggested by ICRP. The radium equivalent activity of all the samples is under 100 Bq/kg. The maximum outward and inside risk indices of all these samples are below the values of 0.37 and 0.43. No direct correlation has been seen between 238U and its mass exhalation rate as well as 232Th and its surface exhalation rate in soil samples.

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Acknowledgements

The investigators express their gratitude to DAE-BRNS, Government of India, for extending financial assistance (Project No. 2013/36/60-BRNS). We also acknowledge the residents of Jammu and Kashmir, India for their cooperation during field work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, D.A.V College, Amritsar, Punjab, India

    Ajay Kumar, Raman Vij & Sumit Sharma

  2. Department of Applied Sciences, I.K.G Punjab Technical University, Jalandhar, Punjab, India

    Raman Vij & Amit Sarin

  3. Department of Applied Sciences, Guru Kashi University, Talwandi Sabo, Punjab, India

    Saurabh Narang

Authors
  1. Ajay Kumar
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  2. Raman Vij
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  3. Sumit Sharma
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  4. Amit Sarin
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  5. Saurabh Narang
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Correspondence to Ajay Kumar.

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Kumar, A., Vij, R., Sharma, S. et al. Assessment of radionuclide concentration and exhalation studies in soil of lesser Himalayas of Jammu and Kashmir, India. Acta Geophys. 66, 1195–1202 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11600-018-0119-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11600-018-0119-0

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