dorsal/arxiv
View SchemaA Comprehensive Study of Natural Gamma Radioactivity Levels and Associated Dose Rates from Surface Soils in Cyprus
| Authors | M. Tzortzis, E. Svoukis, H. Tsertos |
|---|---|
| Categories | |
| ArXiv ID | physics/0309009 |
| URL | https://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0309009 |
| Journal | Radiat.Prot.Dosim. 109 (2004) 217-224 |
Abstract
A survey was carried out to determine activity concentration levels and associated dose rates from the naturally occurring radionuclides Th-232, U-238, and K-40, in the various geological formations appearing throughout the geographically accessible area of Cyprus, by means of high-resolution gamma-ray spectrometry. A total number of 115 representative soil samples were collected from all over the bedrock surface of the island, based on the different lithological units of the study area, sieved through a fine mesh, sealed in 1000-mL plastic Marinelli beakers, and measured in the laboratory with respect to their gamma radioactivity for a counting time of 18 hours each. From the measured spectra, activity concentrations were determined for Th-232 (range from 1.0x10^-2 to 39.8 Bq/kg), U-238 (from 1.0x10^-2 to 39.3 Bq/kg) and K-40 (from 4.0x10^-2 to 565.8 Bq/kg). Gamma absorbed dose rates in air outdoors were calculated to be in the range of 1.1x10^-2 - 51.3 nGy/h, depending on the geological features, with an overall mean value of 8.7 nGy/h and a standard deviation of 8.4 nGy/h. This value is by a factor of about 7 below the corresponding population-weighted world-averaged value of 60 nGy/h reported by UNSCEAR (2000), and one of the lowest that has been reported from similar investigations worldwide. Assuming a 20% occupancy factor, the corresponding effective dose rates outdoors equivalent to the population were calculated to be between 1.3x10^-2 and 62.9 micro Sv/y, with an arithmetic mean value of 10.7 micro Sv/y and a standard deviation of 10.3 micro Sv/y.
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"abstract": "A survey was carried out to determine activity concentration levels and\nassociated dose rates from the naturally occurring radionuclides Th-232, U-238,\nand K-40, in the various geological formations appearing throughout the\ngeographically accessible area of Cyprus, by means of high-resolution gamma-ray\nspectrometry. A total number of 115 representative soil samples were collected\nfrom all over the bedrock surface of the island, based on the different\nlithological units of the study area, sieved through a fine mesh, sealed in\n1000-mL plastic Marinelli beakers, and measured in the laboratory with respect\nto their gamma radioactivity for a counting time of 18 hours each. From the\nmeasured spectra, activity concentrations were determined for Th-232 (range\nfrom 1.0x10^-2 to 39.8 Bq/kg), U-238 (from 1.0x10^-2 to 39.3 Bq/kg) and K-40\n(from 4.0x10^-2 to 565.8 Bq/kg). Gamma absorbed dose rates in air outdoors were\ncalculated to be in the range of 1.1x10^-2 - 51.3 nGy/h, depending on the\ngeological features, with an overall mean value of 8.7 nGy/h and a standard\ndeviation of 8.4 nGy/h. This value is by a factor of about 7 below the\ncorresponding population-weighted world-averaged value of 60 nGy/h reported by\nUNSCEAR (2000), and one of the lowest that has been reported from similar\ninvestigations worldwide. Assuming a 20% occupancy factor, the corresponding\neffective dose rates outdoors equivalent to the population were calculated to\nbe between 1.3x10^-2 and 62.9 micro Sv/y, with an arithmetic mean value of 10.7\nmicro Sv/y and a standard deviation of 10.3 micro Sv/y.",
"arxiv_id": "physics/0309009",
"authors": [
"M. Tzortzis",
"E. Svoukis",
"H. Tsertos"
],
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"physics.med-ph",
"nucl-ex",
"physics.soc-ph"
],
"journal_ref": "Radiat.Prot.Dosim. 109 (2004) 217-224",
"title": "A Comprehensive Study of Natural Gamma Radioactivity Levels and Associated Dose Rates from Surface Soils in Cyprus",
"url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0309009"
},
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