Radioactivity of soil in Croatia II: 137Cs, 40K, and absorbed dose rate | JoVE Visualize

Radioactivity of soil in Croatia II: ¹³⁷Cs, ⁴⁰K, and absorbed dose rate

Marko Šoštarić¹, Branko Petrinec¹, Mak Avdić¹

¹Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Zagreb, Croatia.

Arhiv Za Higijenu Rada I Toksikologiju|March 31, 2021

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

This study measured radionuclide activity in Croatian soils, finding Potassium-40 (K-40) highest in the Pannonian region and Cesium-137 (Cs-137) increasing with altitude. Soil radioactivity levels indicate varying external radiation exposure across regions.

Area of Science:

Environmental Science
Radiochemistry
Geoscience

Background:

Understanding soil radioactivity is crucial for environmental monitoring and radiation protection.
Previous research focused on Uranium-238 (U-238) and Thorium-232 (Th-232) decay chains in Croatian soils.
This study complements existing data by analyzing Potassium-40 (K-40) and Cesium-137 (Cs-137) activity concentrations.

Purpose of the Study:

To determine the activity concentrations of K-40 and Cs-137 in uncultivated Croatian topsoil.
To investigate the geographical distribution and factors influencing these radionuclide concentrations.
To assess the external exposure to ionizing radiation from soil and the potential for Cs-137 transfer to food chains.

Main Methods:

Collection of 138 uncultivated topsoil samples (0-10 cm) across Croatia.
Measurement of radionuclide activity concentrations using high-resolution gamma-ray spectrometry.
Calculation of absorbed dose rates to estimate external radiation exposure.

Main Results:

K-40 activity concentrations were highest in the Pannonian region.
Cs-137 concentrations showed an increasing trend with altitude, annual precipitation, and vegetation density.
The K-40/Cs-137 concentration ratio was lowest in eastern Pannonian agricultural areas, indicating lower food chain transfer potential.
External radiation exposure was generally highest in the Dinaric region and Istrian Peninsula.

Conclusions:

The study provides a comprehensive overview of Croatian soil radioactivity, including K-40 and Cs-137.
Geographical factors significantly influence the distribution of these radionuclides.
Radiation exposure risk varies regionally, with implications for environmental and health assessments.