Spatial distribution and lifetime cancer risk due to gamma radioactivity in Yelagiri Hills, Tamilnadu, India

Publication date: 2014 Source:Egyptian Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences, Volume 1, Issue 1 Author(s): A. Chandrasekaran , R. Ravisankar , G. Senthilkumar , K. Thillaivelavan , B. Dhinakaran , P. Vijayagopal , S.N. Bramha , B. Venkatraman The spatial distribution of natural radioactivity due to uranium, thorium and potassium was investigated in soils from the undisturbed areas in Yelagiri Hills, Tamilnadu, India by Isodose map. The radiological hazards due to natural radionuclides content such as representative level index (RLI), activity utilization index (AUI), excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) and internal radiation hazards (H in) of the soil samples in this area were calculated. The calculated radiological hazard parameters are compared with different countries of the world. The calculated range of ELCR is 0.326 × 10−3 to 1.067 × 10−3 with an average of 0.700 × 10−3 for soils. This average value of ELCR is more twice than the world average (0.290 × 10−3). A correlation analysis was made between measured dose rate and individual radionuclides, in order to delineate the contribution of the respective nuclides toward the dose rate. The U/Th concentration ratio in surface soil samples ranged from 0.05 to 1.72 with an average of 0.43 which is more higher (80%) than the world average of 0.26. The application of cluster analysis (CA) and principal component analysis (PCA), coupled with Pearson correlation coefficient analysis, were utilized t...
Source: Egyptian Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences - Category: Science Source Type: research