Correlation of gamma emitting radionuclides and radiological health hazards indices around Lancaster dam

Background: All human beings and living organisms are exposed to natural radiations on daily basis, which is mainly due to the activity concentration of primordial radionuclides 232Th, 238U and their products of decay together with the natural radionuclide 40K present in the earth’s crust. Materials and Methods: A total of 59 soil samples were collected around the banks and surroundings of the Lancaster dam using an auger at a depth of about 0.75 meters from the top surface. The samples were analysed using low background co-axial n-type High Purity Germanium (HPGe) detector of high-resolution and the resulting spectrum were analysed using Canberra Genie software. Results: This study revealed that the activity concentration values are in the order of 232Th <40K<238U in all sampling sites. A statistical analysis based on Pearson correlation showed a positive correlation between the radiological parameters and the two primordial radionuclides 232Th, 238U and the natural radionuclide 40K. Conclusion: This implied that the two primordial radionuclides 232Th, 238U and their products of decay including the natural radionuclide 40K contribute to the emission of gamma radiation in all the locations of the study area. The calculated 238U/232Th concentration ratio in soils of present study was almost six times higher compared with different countries of the world.