Measurement of natural radioactivity in several sandy-loamy soil samples from Sijua, Dhanbad, India

The activity concentrations of natural radionuclides (226)Ra, (232)Th and (40)K in soil samples collected from Sijua Dhanbad, India were measured by using a gamma-ray spectrometer with a NaI(Tl) detector. The average activity concentration of (226)Ra, (232)Th, and (40)K was found as 60.3, 64.5 and 481.0 [Formula: see text] , respectively. Average radium equivalent activity, absorbed dose rate, outdoor dose, external hazard index and internal hazard index for the area under study is determined as 189.5 [Formula: see text] , 87.2 [Formula: see text] , 0.4, 0.5 and 0.6 [Formula: see text] , respectively. The annual effective dose to the general public is found 0.4 [Formula: see text]. This value lies well below the limit of 1 [Formula: see text]. Measured values have found safe for the environment and public health of the study area.