Progress of Cryogenics and Isotopes Separation , ISSN: 1582-2575
2011, Volume 14, Issue 2

Exposure Level to the Gamma Radiation Emitted by Natural Radioactive Isotopes Occuring in Soil at Ramnicu Valcea, Romania

Anisoara Oubraham 1* , Liana Simona Sbirna 2 , Monica Mateescu 3 , Sebastian Sbirna 4 , Luminita Cojocaru 4

1 National Institute for Research and Development for Cryogenics and Isotopic Technologies - ICIT Rm. Valcea, Uzinei Street no. 4, P.O. Box Raureni 7, 240050, Ramnicu Valcea, Romania
2 University of Craiova, Faculty of Chemistry, 1071 Calea Bucuresti, 2000478 Craiova, Romania
3 University of Craiova, Faculty of Chemistry, 107I Calea Bucuresti, Craiova, Romania
4 Craiova Regional Environment Protection Agency, 1 Petru Rares Street, Craiova

*Corresponding author: Anisoara Oubraham, E-mail: anisoara@icsi.ro

Published: October 2011


Abstract

The present work reports the results of a study performed, by gamma spectral analysis, on different soil samples collected from Ramnicu Valcea, an important Romanian city. The purpose of this research is to estimate the gamma dose rate in the out-door air (at a height of 1 m above the ground), in order to compare the result thus obtained to the annual effective dose value which is recommended not to be exceeded for the population. By calculating the mean activity concentrations for the primordial decay chains (those of Radium-226 and Thorium-232), as well as the mean activity concentration for the Potassium-40 radioisotope, one may evaluate the gamma dose rate received by the public in Ramnicu Valcea, which is proved to be lower than the maximum admitted value, so the study leads to the conclusion that the inhabitants are not dangerously exposed to this kind of radiation.


Keywords

Gamma dose rate, naturally occuring soil radiation, Ramnicu Valcea.


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