ASSESSMENT OF GAMMA DOSE AND ANNUAL EFFECTIVE DOSE RATE FOR COMMONLY USED FERTILIZER SAMPLES IN AGRICULTURE FIELD WITH A STATISTICAL APPROACH

Abstract

AbstractIn this present study, the activity concentration of the naturally occurring radionuclides 238U, 232Th and 40K have been measured in commonly used chemical fertilizers for agriculture by using gamma-ray spectrometry with NaI (TI) detector. Radiological hazard parameters have been calculated for samples. The mean specific activity concentration of the 238U, 232Th and 40K is 176, 5.75 and 4136 Bq kg−1, respectively. Particularly, the mean value of 238U, as well as 40K, is higher than the world recommended value. Also, the average value of radium equivalent activity is 503 Bq kg−1 and the absorbed dose rate (DR) is 282.93 nGyh−1, which is greater than the permissible limit, whereas the annual effective dose rate (AEDR) is 0.316 mSvy−1, which is lower than the world recommended value. Therefore, collected fertilizer samples significantly increase the activity concentration of natural radionuclides in the agricultural soils. Multivariate statistical techniques such as Pearson correlation and factor analysis are carried out for radioactive variables to understand the existing relationship between them. From obtained results reveals that these fertilizer samples increases the probability of adverse health effects due to natural radioactivity.