Estimation of natural radionuclides in the soil samples and its radiological impact on human health

In the present study, soil samples collected from 40 different locations of Jodhpur, Nagaur, Bikaner and Jhunjhunu districts of northern Rajasthan, India has been analyzed for Ra-226, Th-232 and K-40 using gamma ray spectroscopy. The measured activity concentration ranges from 14 +/- 8 to 37 +/- 9?Bq?kg(-1), 42 +/- 10 to 84 +/- 11?Bq?kg(-1.)and 304 +/- 125 to 734 +/- 141?Bq?kg(-1) with the mean value of 24 +/- 10?Bq?kg(-1), 55 +/- 11?Bq?kg(-1) and 549 +/- 145?Bq?kg(-1) for Ra-226, Th-232 and K-40, respectively. The radium equivalent activity (Ra-eq) of all the soil samples ranges from 119 to 209?Bq?kg(-1) with an average value of 146?Bq?kg(-1), which is lower than the safe limit 370?Bq?kg(-1) set by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. The total absorbed dose and annual effective dose of all the investigated samples has also been explored in the present manuscript. The corresponding values of external and internal hazard index of all the soil samples ranges from 0.31 to 0.58 and 0.35 to 0.68 with the average value of 0.39 and 0.46, respectively. It was observed that the soil of Jodhpur, Nagaur, Bikaner and Jhunjhunu districts is suitable for construction purpose without posing any health hazard.