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Determination of naturally occurring radionuclides in selected rocks from Hetaunda area, central Nepal

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Abstract

The specific activities of the naturally occurring radionuclides 238U, 232Th, and 40K were measured in rock samples from the Hetaunda area, central Nepal, using gamma spectrometry. The specific activities were found to be in the range of 17–95 Bq kg−1 for 238U, 24–260 Bq kg−1 for 232Th and 32–541 Bq kg−1 for 40K. From these data absorbed dose rates in air and annual effective doses were calculated and compared with respective data from the UNSCEAR compilation. The results from our study open the door to the safe applicability of most of the investigated materials as a cheep building material.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Motee Lal Sharma (Department of Chemistry, Trichandra Campus, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal) for bringing us in contact and helping with the sample preparation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Anorganische Chemie, Universität Wien, Währinger Str. 42, 1090, Vienna, Austria

    Gabriela Wallova & Gabriele Wallner

  2. Central Department of Geology, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Nepal

    Kamala Kant Acharya

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  1. Gabriela Wallova
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  2. Kamala Kant Acharya
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  3. Gabriele Wallner
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Correspondence to Gabriela Wallova.

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Wallova, G., Acharya, K.K. & Wallner, G. Determination of naturally occurring radionuclides in selected rocks from Hetaunda area, central Nepal. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 283, 713–718 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-009-0401-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-009-0401-3

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