Natural radioactivity levels and associated radiation hazards in soil samples of Chikkamagaluru district, Karnataka, India.

The 226Ra, 232Th and 40K activities were investigated in soil samples of Chikkamagaluru district, Karnataka, using γ-ray spectrometry. The average activity of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K were found to vary from 15.2 ± 0.6 to 58 ± 1.2 Bq kg−1, 14 ± 0.6 to 86.2 ± 1.7 Bq kg−1, and 224.5 ± 5.5 to 1650 ± 20.3 Bq kg−1 with a mean value of 36.93 ± 1.0, 51.6 ± 1.3 and 566.97 ± 11.0 Bq kg−1. The average activity concentrations are slightly higher than world average value. The average annual effective dose is more than the Indian average value of 0.084 mSv y−1. The average values of all the radiological hazards are less than the criterion limit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]