Distribution of 226 Ra, 232 Th, 40 K and 137 Cs in soils of Province of Camaguey, Cuba

A survey programme aimed at studying the environmental radioactivity in the Province of Camaguey in the eastern region of Cuba was undertaken. The average concentrations of 226 Ra, 232 Th, and 40 K in the surveyed soils were 26.4, 11.5 and 210 Bq.kg-1, respectively. The man-made radionuclide found was 137 Cs and its concentration was similar to those reported in regions affected only by global radioactive fallout, (7.9 Bq.kg-1). Radiological measurements carried out with a portable ionization chamber RSS-112 at the sampled sites revealed an average outdoor absorbed dose rate of 59.0 nGy.h-1 due to cosmic rays and terrestrial gamma radiation. Computed dose rates obtained through the UNSCEAR(1993) dose coefficients range from 4-182 nGy.h-1, with a mean value of 27.8 nGy.h-1, due to natural terrestrial gamma radiation. Ratio of Indoor to Outdoor absorbed dose rates in air was 1.75. The average value of absorbed dose rate in air for the ionizing component of cosmic rays was 31.8 nGy.h-1 at sea level. Because of the 95% of the Camaguey population lives at altitudes close to sea level (10-100 m), the absorbed dose rate in outdoor air from ionizing component of cosmic rays was estimated to be 32.3 nGy.h-1. An annual average effective dose equivalent of 510 μSv was estimated for Camaguey population due to the ionizing component of cosmic and gamma terrestrial radiation. This value is lower than the 760 μSv.year-1 estimated as a world average by UNSCEAR (1993). (author)