Estimation of natural radiological hazards of rocks from Boothapandi panchayat, Kanyakumari District

In the natural environment, it is an important source of exposure to radiation due to naturally occurring, gamma emitting radionuclides which include ²³⁶U, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K present in the rock. The radioactivity contents of various radionuclides in rocks play an important role in health physics and geo-scientific research. Rocks are a natural solid substance. From building to highways- we can find the rocks almost everywhere. Rocks are used for masonry work, lintels, and vertical columns, covering floors of the building. This research aimed to assess natural radiological hazards in Boothapandi panchayat, Kanyakumari district. The natural radionuclides ²³⁶U, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K were measured with a NaI(Tl) detector. In order to assess the radiological hazards resulting from natural radioactivity, radium equivalent activities (R_aeq), absorber dose rate (DR), internal (H_in) and external (H_ex) hazard index, annual effective indoor dose rate (AEDin), annual effective outdoor dose rate (AEDout), and gamma index were calculated. (author)