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On the radiological assessment of natural and fallout radioactivity in a natural high background radiation area at Odisha, India

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Abstract

Natural and fallout radioactivity were estimated in surface soil samples collected around a natural high background radiation area (NHBRA) at Odisha, India using high resolution gamma ray spectrometry. Radiological characterization of the surface soil samples was done by the estimation of radiation hazard indices e.g. external absorbed gamma dose rate (D), radium equivalent activity (Ra eq) and activity concentration index (I). The estimated total absorbed gamma dose rate ranged between 46.2 and 964.2 nGy/h with an average of 341.4 nGy/h, higher than the global average of 58 nGy/h but compared with the other reported NHBRA in India and worldwide.

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Acknowledgments

Authors gratefully acknowledge the guidance and encouragement of Dr. D. N. Sharma, Director, Health Safety and Environment Group, Bhabha Atomic Research Center (BARC) throughout this work. The help and support received from the colleagues of Health Physics Units, OSCOM, and the authorities of IREL during environmental sampling and survey of the study area is greatly acknowledged by the authors. The whole heartedly contribution of Dr. Manoj Mohapatra, Radiochemistry Division, BARC is greatly acknowledged during sampling and survey of the study area. The contribution of Shri S. Chinnaesakki and Smt. S. J. Sartandel, Health Physics Division, BARC is greatly acknowledged during the gamma spectrometric measurement of the samples. Authors are truly grateful for the cooperation received from other colleagues of the lab, during the progress of this work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Health Physics Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai, 400 085, India

    S. Mohapatra, S. K. Sahoo, J. S. Dubey, A. C. Patra, V. K. Thakur, S. K. Tripathy, D. Vidyasagar, P. M. Ravi & R. M. Tripathi

  2. Radiochemistry Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai, 400 085, India

    S. V. Godbole

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  1. S. Mohapatra
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  2. S. K. Sahoo
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  3. J. S. Dubey
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Mohapatra, S., Sahoo, S.K., Dubey, J.S. et al. On the radiological assessment of natural and fallout radioactivity in a natural high background radiation area at Odisha, India. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 303, 2081–2092 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-014-3814-6

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