Assessment of concentration of radium, thorium, and potassium in soils of Rohtak and Jind districts of Haryana

The study assessed natural radioactivity in Rohtak and Jind districts, Haryana, India. Concentrations of radionuclides in soil and building materials were measured using gamma-ray spectroscopy. The 'Canister Technique' was employed to estimate radon mass exhalation and surface exhalation rates. Results showed low radiation doses from soil radioactivity, with activity concentrations ranging from 3.7 to 51.7 Bq/kg for radium, 7.3 to 96 Bq/kg for thorium, and 52.2 to 585 Bq/kg for potassium. The findings also calculated radium equivalent activity, annual effective dose rate, hazard indices, and excess life time cancer risk. This research highlights the importance of understanding natural radioactivity for assessing environmental radiation exposure. (author)