Technologically elevated natural radioactivity and assessment of dose to workers around a granitic uranium deposit area, China

Gamma dose rates in a uranium site in Guangdong, China were measured based on different functioning areas (mining area, milling area, tailings area and downstream area); four representative soil profiles were measured with HP Ge gamma spectrometry. The gamma dose rates as well as annual effective dose overall exceeded the relevant values reported from other countries. Both the external and the internal hazard index overwhelmingly exceeded the recommended value. Some areas were heavily polluted with technologically elevated concentrations of 238U and 226Ra, while others were observed with extremely high background level of natural radioactivity, mainly stemming from granitic lithology.