Measurements of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K using gamma spectrometry to assess a first-order exposure risk for residents of Western Haryana, India

The measurements of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K using gamma spectrometry and measurements of radon concentration and exhalation rates using solid-state nuclear track (LR-115, Type-II plastic) detectors were used to assess a first-order exposure risk for people residing in the Fatehbad and Hissar districts in Western Haryana, India. The concentrations of radium, thorium and potassium in the soil samples varied from 19.24 Bq m−3 to 32.21 Bq m−3, 30.21 Bq m−3 to 64.25 Bq m−3 and 346.25 Bq m−3 to 607.32 Bq m−3, respectively, with average values of 26.46, 50.78 and 462.70 Bq m−3, respectively. The values of absorbed dose and annual effective dose (indoors and outdoors) were found to vary from 44.75 nGy h−1 to 75.44 nGy h−1, 0.22 mSv y−1 to 0.37 mSv y−1 and 0.05 mSv y−1 to 0.09 mSv y−1 respectively. The radon concentration and exhalation rates were also reported. The radium equivalent activities in all the soil samples were found to be lower than the limit (370 Bq kg−1) and the value of Hex in all the samples is less than unity.