Radiological Risk Assessment in Soil Samples of Western Haryana, India

The measurements of Ra, Th and K using gamma spectrometry and radon concentration and exhalation rates measurements using solid state nuclear track (LR-115, Type-II plastic) detectors are used to asses a first order exposure risk for the persons residing in Fatehbad and Hissar districts of Western Haryana, India. The concentration of Radium, Thorium and Potassium in the soil samples varies from 13.37 Bq m to 24.67 Bq m, 34.67 Bq m to 67.34 Bq m and 298.78 Bq m to 405.67 Bq m respectively with average values of 18.78, 47.35 and 361.57 Bq m respectively. The radium equivalent activity (Raeq) calculated for the same soil samples varies from 92.72 Bq m to 140.6 Bq m with an average value of 111.80 Bq m. The values of absorbed dose and annual effective dose (indoors and outdoors) are found to vary from 44.18 nGy h to 65.23 nGy h, 0.22 mSv y to 0.32 mSv y and 0.05 mSv y to 0.08 mSv y respectively. The radon concentration and exhalation rates have also been reported. The radium equivalent activities in all the soil samples were found to be lower than the limit (370 Bq kg) set in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) report and the value of Hex in all the samples is less than unity. Keywords—Gamma ray spectrometry, dose, radon, exhalation rate.