Title: Enrichment of ²¹⁰Po and ²¹⁰Pb in the Padubidri environs of Karnataka

Authors: V. Prakash, Y. Narayana

Addresses: Department of Studies in Physics, Mangalore University, Mangalagangotri-574 199, D.K., Karnataka, India. ' Department of Studies in Physics, Mangalore University, Mangalagangotri-574 199, D.K., Karnataka, India

Abstract: The activity concentrations of natural radionuclides, viz ²¹⁰Po and ²¹⁰Pb, in soil samples of Padubidri in the coastal Karnataka, the site for the proposed coal-based thermal power station, were measured using a ZnS (Ag) alpha counting system to establish baseline data on radioactivity levels in the environment of the region. Soil samples were collected at different sampling stations and analysed for ²¹⁰Po and ²¹⁰Pb activities to understand the distribution and enrichment of these radionuclides. The mean ²¹⁰Po/²¹⁰Pb ratio shows that the radionuclides ²¹⁰Po and ²¹⁰Pb are not in equilibrium, and the accumulation of ²¹⁰Pb in soil is greater than that of ²¹⁰Po. A good correlation was observed between the activities of ²¹⁰Po and ²¹⁰Pb. The absorbed gamma dose rates were also measured in the study area using a portable scintillometer.

Keywords: soil samples; activity; natural radionuclides; gamma dose rates; alpha counting system; lead; polonium; coal-based power stations; thermal power stations; radioactivity levels; India; radiation levels.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNEST.2007.017078

International Journal of Nuclear Energy Science and Technology, 2007 Vol.3 No.4, pp.378 - 385

Published online: 06 Feb 2008 *

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