Abstract
The activity concentrations of some natural and artificial radionuclides have been measured in soil samples by gamma-ray spectroscopy using a high purity germanium detector. From the obtained gamma-ray spectra, the activity concentrations of 238U and 232Th natural decay series and the long-lived naturally occurring radionuclide 40K have been determined, in addition to the fission product 137Cs. A wide range of different gamma-ray lines ranging from -100 keV up to 2.6 MeV, associated with the decay products of238U and232Th series have been analyzed independently to obtain more statistically significant overall results. The data have been analyzed, when secular equilibrium of the radionuclides is achieved within the samples. The weighted activity concentrations of 238U and232Th series vary from 4.4 to 64.4 and 0.8 to 7.6 Bq/kg, respectively. The activity concentrations of 40K and 137Cs have been found in the range of13.6 to 179.5 and 0.3 to 3.7 Bq/kg, respectively. Based on the measured activity concentrations, dose rate, radium equivalent, radiation hazard index and annual effective dose rates have been estimated. The values obtained are within the recommended safety limits.