Prediction of terrestrial gamma dose rate based on geological formations and soil types in the Johor State, Malaysia

• A very good correlation coefficient was found between DG,S and DG or DG,S and Ds.
• The contribution of the gamma dose rate from geological formation (GDR) is 0.594.
• The contribution of the GDR from soil type was found to be 0.399.
• A 83% of examined data were accepted the null hypotheses.
• The model could be used to predict the gamma dose rates.

This study aims to predict and estimate unmeasured terrestrial gamma dose rate (TGDR) using statistical analysis methods to derive a model from the actual measurement based on geological formation and soil type. The measurements of TGDR were conducted in the state of Johor with a total of 3873 measured points which covered all geological formations, soil types and districts. The measurements were taken 1 m above the soil surface using NaI [Ti] detector. The measured gamma dose rates ranged from 9 nGy h−1 to 1237 nGy h−1 with a mean value of 151 nGy h−1. The data have been normalized to fit a normal distribution. Tests of significance were conducted among all geological formations and soil types, using the unbalanced one way ANOVA. The results indicated strong significant differences due to the different geological formations and soil types present in Johor State. Pearson Correlation was used to measure the relations between gamma dose rate based on geological formation and soil type (DG,S) with the gamma dose rate based on geological formation (DG) or soil type (Ds). A very good correlation was found between DG,S and DG or DG,S and Ds. A total of 118 pairs of geological formations and soil types were used to derive the statistical contribution of geological formations and soil types to gamma dose rates. The contribution of the gamma dose rate from geological formation and soil type were found to be 0.594 and 0.399, respectively. The null hypotheses were accepted for 83% of examined data, therefore, the model could be used to predict gamma dose rates based on geological formation and soil type information.