Mapping of ambient gamma radiation levels and risk assessment in some parts of Eastern Deccan Plateau, India

ABSTRACT

Natural background gamma radiation levels in the indoors and outdoors of certain northern districts of Telangana State, situated on Deccan plateau, were measured with scintillation detector-based survey metre. It was observed that the absorbed gamma dose rates in the indoor and outdoor of the study area were found to vary from 106 nGyh⁻¹ to 322 nGyh⁻¹ with an average of 192 ± 48 nGyh⁻¹, and 102 nGyh⁻¹ to 331 nGyh⁻¹ with an average of 172 ± 50 nGyh⁻¹, respectively. Spatial distribution maps and isodose contours are created using inverse distance weighted technique. The histogram and quantile graphs of the indoor and outdoor natural background gamma radiation levels were observed to follow the structure of symmetrical distribution. The average ratio of indoor to outdoor gamma radiation levels was found to be 1.10. The influence of building materials on the natural background gamma radiation levels was discussed. The annual effective dose was found to vary from 0.20 to 1.89 mSv. The excess life cancer risk was also calculated.

KEYWORDS:

• Gamma radiation
• absorbed dose rate
• annual effective dose
• excess life cancer risk
• uranium

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to Prof K. Rama Reddy for his inspiring support throughout the work. The authors (GSR, KVKR, BSR and BLR) are thankful to management and Principals of both MGIT and CBIT colleges for their encouragement and support in carrying out the research work.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).