Evaluation of radionuclides in the terrestrial environment of Western Ghats

The activity concentration of naturally occurring radionuclides in soil samples of an elevated radiation background area of Western Ghats were determined using gamma-ray spectrometry with the aim of evaluating the environmental radioactivity. The annual effective dose equivalent and the radiation hazard indices from the soil activity were estimated to reduce the harmful effects of gamma radiation to the population dwelling in the area. The activity concentrations of 232Th and average outdoor terrestrial gamma dose rate were found to be higher than the world average, this may affect Western Ghats environment in general. Therefore, the radiological risks to the general population from ionizing radiation from the naturally occurring radionuclides in the soil are considered to be significant. However, other radiological hazard indices were found to be within permissible limits.