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Mapping of radionuclides for radiological impact assessment in cultivated soil of Punjab, India

  • 0Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology Ropar, Rupnagar, 140 001, Punjab, India.
Applied Radiation and Isotopes : Including Data, Instrumentation and Methods for Use in Agriculture, Industry and Medicine +

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May 13, 2025

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May 13, 2025

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Soil radionuclide levels in Ropar, India, exceed global averages, posing radiation hazards. Elevated gamma radiation doses and cancer risks were observed, with Thorium-232 identified as the main contributor.

Area Of Science

  • Environmental Science
  • Radiological Science
  • Geochemistry

Background

  • Agricultural soils in Punjab, India, are subject to natural radionuclide accumulation.
  • Understanding radionuclide distribution is crucial for assessing environmental radiation hazards.

Purpose Of The Study

  • To investigate and map the distribution of radionuclides (226Ra, 232Th, 40K) in Ropar agricultural soils.
  • To assess associated radiation hazards, including gamma dose rates and cancer risks.

Main Methods

  • Soil samples were collected from the Ropar agricultural region.
  • High-resolution HPGe detector was used for precise radioactivity measurements.
  • Radiological indices, hazard indices, gamma radiation dose rates, annual effective doses, and cancer risk levels were calculated.

Main Results

  • Specific activities of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K were higher than global averages.
  • Radium equivalent activity exceeded the world average, though below the permissible limit.
  • Indoor and outdoor gamma radiation dose rates, annual effective doses, and cancer risk levels surpassed recommended safety standards.
  • Thorium-232 was identified as the primary contributor to radiation exposure.

Conclusions

  • While some radiological indices were within limits, elevated radiation doses and cancer risks in Ropar soils necessitate attention.
  • Thorium-232 is the dominant source of radiation exposure in the studied region.
  • Further studies on interrelationships between radionuclides and hazard indices are recommended.

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