Distribution of radionuclides in vertical profile and physico – chemical parameters of soil in Somwarpet taluk, Coorg district, Karnataka state, India

ABSTRACT

The distribution of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, ⁴⁰K, ²¹⁰Po and ²¹⁰Pb radionuclides in the illuviated soils of Somwarpet taluk, Coorg district of Karnataka state are investigated. In a vertical profile, soil samples were collected and the activity concentrations of these radionuclides were determined. The activity concentration of ²¹⁰Po and ²¹⁰Pb was determined using the radioanalytical method. The activity concentration of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K radionuclides in the lowest layer or the illuviated horizon of the vertical profile were found to be highest, due to accumulation of organic matter and clay. The average ²¹⁰Po and ²¹⁰Pb activity concentration is 12.49 Bq kg⁻¹ and 33.94 Bq kg⁻¹ in the top layer of the soil, 3.01 Bq kg⁻¹ and 16.96 Bq kg⁻¹ in the second layer, and 1.53 Bq kg⁻¹ and 7.11 Bq kg⁻¹ in the third layer respectively, which is high in the top surface of the soil. The determined physico-chemical parameters and the dependence of radionuclides were analysed using Pearson correlation analysis, which shows that insignificant associations could be attributable to changes in physico-chemical characteristics of soil in different sampling locations.

KEYWORDS:

• Radium
• thorium
• polonium
• lead
• illuviation
• Coorg

Disclosure statement

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