Comparative study of natural radioactivity levels in soil samples from the Upper Siwaliks and Punjab, India using gamma-ray spectrometry

Natural radioactive materials under certain conditions can reach hazardous radiological levels. So, it becomes necessary to study the natural radioactivity levels in soil to assess the dose for the population in order to know the health risks and to have a baseline for future changes in the environmental radioactivity due to human activities. The natural radionuclide (226Ra, 232Th, and 40K) contents in soil were determined for 26 locations around the Upper Siwaliks of Kala Amb, Nahan and Morni Hills, Northern India, using high-resolution gamma-ray spectrometric analysis. It was observed that the concentration of natural radionuclides viz., 226Ra, 232Th and 40K, in the soil varies from 28.3 ± 0.5 to 81.0 ± 1.7 Bq kg−1, 61.2 ± 1.3 to 140.3 ± 2.6 Bq kg−1 and 363.4 ± 4.9 to 1002.2 ± 11.2 Bq kg−1 respectively. The total absorbed dose rate calculated from activity concentration of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K ranged from 71.1 to 162.0 nGy h−1. The radium equivalent (Req) and the external hazard index (Hex), which resulted from the natural radionuclides in soil, were also calculated and found to vary from 149.4 to 351.8 Bq kg−1and from 0.40 to 0.95 respectively. These values in Upper Siwaliks area were compared with that from the adjoining areas of Punjab. The radium equivalent activities in all the soil samples were lower than the limit (370 Bq kg−1) set in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) report and the dose equivalent was within the safe limit of 1 mSv y−1.