Study of distribution of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K in soil samples of Chickmagalur area and their dose estimation

Chickmagalur is part of the Bababudan belt and enriched with geological important mineral kingdom. The Uraniferous Quartz Pebble Conglomerate (UQPC) horizon lies near Chickmagalur town and stretches nearly 34 km long. UQPC are rare of its kind of sedimentary formation in the world and it is associated with relatively higher concentration of uranium and thorium and its daughters. The study of distribution radionuclide concentration in soil is essentially important to form a base line data and to take necessary precautions by the living population in the area. In the present study, concentrations of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, ⁴⁰K and ¹³⁷Cs in soil were measured which was used to estimate the distribution of natural radioactivity in the environment of Chikmagalur