Reassessment and comparison of natural radioactivity levels in relation to granulometric contents of recently excavated major river sediments

V. Ramasamy; G. Suresh; P. Rajkumar; S. Murugesan; S. Mullainathan; V. Meenakshisundaram

doi:10.1007/s10967-011-1486-z

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry

Volume/Issue:: Volume 292: Issue 1

Reassessment and comparison of natural radioactivity levels in relation to granulometric contents of recently excavated major river sediments

Authors:

V. Ramasamy

V. Ramasamy Department of Physics, Annamalai University, Annamalainagar, 608 002 Tamilnadu, India

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G. Suresh

G. Suresh Department of Physics, Thiruvalluvar College of Engineering and Technology, Vandavasi, 604 505 Tamilnadu, India

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P. Rajkumar

P. Rajkumar Department of Physics, Pavai Engg College, Pachal, Namakkal, 637 018 Tamilnadu, India

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S. Murugesan

S. Murugesan Department of Physics, Sathyabama University, Chennai, 600 119 Tamilnadu, India

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S. Mullainathan

S. Mullainathan Department of Physics, A.V.C College of Engineering, Mayiladuthurai, 609 305 Tamilnadu, India

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, and

V. Meenakshisundaram

V. Meenakshisundaram Health and Safety Division, IGCAR, Kalpakkam, 603 102 Tamilnadu, India

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Pages:: 381–393

Online Publication Date:: 20 Oct 2011

Publication Date:: 01 Apr 2012

Article Category:: Research Article

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-011-1486-z

Keywords:: River sediments; Natural radionuclides; Radiological parameters; Cluster analysis

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Abstract

River sediment depositions on the bottom of rivers most frequently consist of sand and gravel particles, which make them particularly valuable for the building construction. Knowledge of radioactivity present in building material enables one to assess any possible radiological hazard to mankind by the use of such materials. The natural radionuclide (²³⁸U, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K) contents have been analyzed for the recently excavated sediment samples of Cauvery, Vellar, Ponnaiyar and Palaru rivers with an aim of evaluating the radiation hazard nature. To know the radiological characteristics of the sediment, the different radiological parameters are calculated. Natural radioactivity level is higher in Palaru river and it is lower in Vellar river sediments. In all the rivers, concentration of ²³⁸U is decreased, and concentrations of ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K are increased towards the river mouth. Granulometric analysis shows that the sand is the main constituent in all the river sediment samples. Content of sand is gradually decreased, and contents of silt and clay are gradually increased towards the river mouth. Cluster analysis was carried out to find the similarity level between the radioactivity and granulometric measurements. The radioactivity level of all the four river sediments mainly depends upon the contents of silt and clay. Averages of the all calculated radiation hazard indices are lower than recommended level in Cauvery, Vellar and Ponnaiyar river sediments. Therefore, the sediment of the above rivers does not pose any significant radiological threat to the population when it is used as a building construction material.

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Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry

Print ISSN:: 0236-5731

Online ISSN:: 1588-2780

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Journal of Radionalytical and Nuclear Chemistry
Language	English
Size	A4
Year of Foundation	1968
Volumes per Year	1
Issues per Year	12
Founder	Akadémiai Kiadó
Founder's Address	H-1117 Budapest, Hungary 1516 Budapest, PO Box 245.
Publisher	Akadémiai Kiadó Springer Nature Switzerland AG
Publisher's Address	H-1117 Budapest, Hungary 1516 Budapest, PO Box 245. CH-6330 Cham, Switzerland Gewerbestrasse 11.
Responsible Publisher	Chief Executive Officer, Akadémiai Kiadó
ISSN	0236-5731 (Print)
ISSN	1588-2780 (Online)