Modelling Natural Radioactivity in Sand Beaches of Guarapari, Espírito Santo State, Brazil

Danilo C. Vasconcelos, Patricia A. L. Reis, Claubia Pereira, Arno H. Oliveira, Talita O. Santos, Zildete Rocha

Centro de Desenvolvimento da Tecnologia Nuclear/Comiss?o Nacional de Energia Nuclear (CDTN/CNEN), Laboratório de Trítio, Belo Horizonte, Brasil.
Departamento de Engenharia Nuclear, Escola de Engenharia Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brasil.

DOI: 10.4236/wjnst.2013.32011                

Abstract

Using gamma-ray spectrometry, the activity concentration of naturally occurring radionuclides ²²⁶Ra, ²¹²Pb, ²¹⁴Pb, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K was determined in sand beaches samples from different areas in Guarapari, Espírito Santo state, from Brazil. The absorbed dose rates and annual effective dose were calculated and the results were compared with the internationally accepted values as well as others high background radiation areas (HBRAs). The activity concentration of the ²³²Th in Areia Preta as well as the absorbed dose rates and annual effective dose were higher than the others regions compared. The results show that Areia Preta in Guarapari has higher background found in beaches in world. This work is part of a research project for the natural background determination of the Brazilian coast.

Keywords

Gamma-Ray Spectrometry; Beach Sand; Guarapari

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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