Natural radioactivity and radiation exposure in fly ash collected from Kota Thermal Power Station, Kota, Rajasthan, India using high resolution γ-ray spectrometry

Coal is an important source of power generation in India. Combustion of coal results in generation of huge amount of ash, which is a major environmental problem as it contains natural radionuclides and few toxic heavy elements. The natural radionuclide in coals release to the atmosphere, gives rise to one of the components of technological natural radiation. This study concern, with the assessment of the radiation exposure from coal burning, which is critically dependent on the concentration of radioactive elements in coal and in the fly ash remains after combustion of coal. Activity concentrations of naturally occurring radionuclides (²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K) were also measured in these samples using high resolution γ-ray spectroscopic system