Radioactivity levels in soil of salt field area, Kelambakkam, Tamilnadu, India

Soil samples in and around salt field area have been analyzed for natural radioactivity concentration using gamma ray spectrometer. The activity concentration for 232Th, 238U and 40K are ranged from 27.88 to 45.27 Bq/kg, from BDL to 13.30 Bq/kg, and from 135.54 to 381.28 Bq/kg, respectively. The measured activity concentrations for these radionuclides were compared with world average activity of soil. The average activity concentration of 232Th in the present study is 1.19 times higher than world median value while the activity of 238U and 40K is found to be lower. The absorbed dose rates due to these radionuclides were calculated. The average absorbed gamma dose rate due to the presence of 232Th, 238U and 40K in soil samples is 36.99 nGy·h-1. These results indicate no radiological anomaly. The data presented in this study will serve as a base line survey for primordial radionuclides concentration in the study area.