Assessment of natural radioactivity levels and radiation hazards in shore sediments from the Zambezi River, Namibia
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Date
2019
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Namibia
Abstract
In this study, the radioactivity concentrations and the potential health hazards of primordial radionuclides; 238U, 232Th and 40K were measured using a gamma ray spectrometer in 30 soil samples
collected from the Zambezi River, Namibia. The average activity concentrations for 238U, 232Th and 40K was found to be 18.91 Bq/kg, 15.58 Bq/kg and 79.17 Bq/kg respectively. The activity
concentrations of the measured radionuclides were used to calculate the radiological hazards in soil samples i.e. absorbed dose rate, annual effective dose equivalent, radium equivalent activity and
hazard indices (Hex and Hin). From the values obtained, all the radiological hazard parameters were within the world acceptable average values. However, the mean annual effective outdoor and
indoor dose equivalent was found to be 0.26 mSv/y and 1.05 mSv/y, respectively, which both exceed the recommended world average United Nations Scientific Committee on Effects of Atomic
Radiation (UNSCEAR) values of 0.07 mSv/y for outdoor and 0.45 mSv/y for indoor.
Description
Keywords
Radioactivity, Gamma ray, Zambezi river
Citation
Amwaalanga, M. A., et al. (2019). Assessment of natural radioactivity levels and radiation hazards in shore sediments from the Zambezi River, Namibia. International Science and Technology Journal of Namibia, 13, 75-83.