SpringerLink
Log in

Distribution of137Cs,40K,238U and232Th in soils from Northern Venezuela

  • Published:
Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

More than one hundred undisturbed soil samples from Northern Venezuela and the islands of Margarita and Los Roques have been analyzed for137Cs,40K,238U and232Th by γ-ray spectroscopy. The specimens were taken from between 5–10 cm below the earth's surface. Thus, they are valid not only for the137Cs deposition studies but also for the estimation of the natural γ-ray dose from primordial radionuclides that form the terrestrial component. The concentration of40K was directly determined from its 1461 keV γ-ray, while those of137Cs,238U and232Th were performed using a γ-ray from one of their daughter radionuclides: the 661 keV γ-ray of137mBa for137Cs, the 1760 keV γ-ray of214Bi for238U and the 2620 keV γ-ray of208Tl for232Th. Finally, the concentration values were compared with those of global estimates.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
EUR 32.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or Ebook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR). Ionizing Radiation: Sources and Biological Effects, United Nations, New York, USA, 1988.

  2. J. SOLANOS, A. DARDER, P. BERTON, Health Phys., 12 (1966) 43.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. B. M. R. GREEN, P. R. LOMAS, F. LUYKX, Rad. Prot. Dos., 36 (1991) 85.

    Google Scholar 

  4. J. J. LaBRECQUE, P. A. ROSALES, O. CARIAS, Nucl. Instr. Meth. Phys. Res., A312 (1992) 217.

    Google Scholar 

  5. J. J. LaBRECQUE, Nucl. Instr. Meth. Phys. Res., A 312 (1992) 217.

    Google Scholar 

  6. E. W. KILLIAN, T. C. SORENSEN, Radioact. Radiochem., 3 (1992) 40.

    Google Scholar 

  7. International Atomic Energy Agency, Measurement of Radionuclides in Food and the Environment. A Guidebook, IAEA, Technical Report Series, No. 295, Vienna, Austria, 1989, p. 169.

  8. O. ARNALDS, N. H. CUTSHALL, G. A. NIELSEN, Health Phys., 57 (1989) 955.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. N. PAUNESCU, O. GALERIU, R. MARGINEANU, A. IORGULESCU, J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem., 163 (1992) 289.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. R. H. VELASCO, M. BELLI, U. SANSONE, S. MENEGON, Health Phys., 64 (1993) 37.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. L. PSZONICKI, A. N. HANNA, O. SUSCHNY, Report on Intercomparison Run: Soil-6, Radionuclides in Soil, International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA/RL/111, Vienna, Austria, 1984, p. 31.

  12. J. J. LaBRECQUE, R. DEKNER, A. N. HANNA, F. REICHEL, A. RASSOUL, R. SCHELENZ, Intercomparison Study IAEA/SL-2 on the Determination of Environmental Levels of Radioactivity in Lake Sediment, International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA/RL/142, Vienna, Austria, 1989, p. 18.

  13. Preparation and Certification of IAEA Gamma-Ray Spectrometry Reference Material RGU-1. RGTh-1 and RGK-1, International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA/RL/148, Vienna, Austria, 1987, p. 48.

  14. M. BRUGNARA DE CASTRO, E. PENA-FRANCA, W. MENDES, S. A. RAMOS, O. J. PEREIRA, An. Acad. Brasil. Cieñ., 57 (1985) 43.

    Google Scholar 

  15. R. M. KOGAN, I. M. NAZAROROV, SH. D. FRIEDMAN, Gamma Spectroscopy of Natural Environment and Formations, Israel Program for Scientific Translations, 1971.

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. J. J. LaBrecque

    Present address: IVIC, M-581, P.O. Box 020010, 33102, Miami, FL, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Atomic and Nuclear Spectroscopy Laboratory, Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Cientificas-IVIC, Apartado 21827, 1020A, Caracas, (Venezuela)

    J. J. LaBrecque

Authors
  1. J. J. LaBrecque
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

LaBrecque, J.J. Distribution of137Cs,40K,238U and232Th in soils from Northern Venezuela. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, Articles 178, 327–336 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02039726

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02039726

Keywords

Search

Navigation