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Assessment of radiation exposure to human and non-human biota due to natural radionuclides in terrestrial environment of Belgrade, the capital of Serbia

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Abstract

The main focus of this study was to assess radiation exposure to human and non-human biota due to natural radionuclides in soil of the Serbian capital. For the first time, ERICA tool was employed for calculation of gamma dose rates to non-human biota in this area. In analyzed soils, the mean values of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K specific activities were found to be 35, 43 and 490 Bq kg−1, respectively. The distribution of analyzed natural radionuclides in soils was discussed in respect to its statistically significant correlations with sand, silt, clay, carbonates, cation exchange capacity and pH value. The annual outdoor effective dose rates to the population varied from 48 to 98 μSv, and the total dose rates to terrestrial biota, calculated by ERICA tool, varied from 9.84 × 10−2 μGy h−1 (for tree) to 5.54 × 10+0 μGy h−1 (for lichen and bryophytes). The results obtained could serve as a baseline data for the assessment of possible anthropogenic enhancement of the total dose rate to human and non-human biota of the study area.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia (Project No. III43009).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences, University of Belgrade, Mike Petrovića Alasa 12-14, Belgrade, 11000, Serbia

    Jelena Petrović & Snežana Dragović

  2. Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics, Department of Geography, University of Niš, Višegradska 33, Niš, 18000, Serbia

    Milan Đorđević & Ranko Dragović

  3. Institute of Land Management, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Belgrade, Nemanjina 6, Belgrade, 11081, Serbia

    Boško Gajić

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  1. Jelena Petrović
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  2. Milan Đorđević
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Correspondence to Jelena Petrović.

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Petrović, J., Đorđević, M., Dragović, R. et al. Assessment of radiation exposure to human and non-human biota due to natural radionuclides in terrestrial environment of Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. Environ Earth Sci 77, 290 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-018-7470-y

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