Assessment of the radiological situation in different areas affected by uranium mining and uranium processing in the Czech Republic

Abstract

This study presents measurements of activity concentrations of natural radionuclides in selected water and soil samples taken from areas affected by the uranium industry in the surroundings of Pribram, Straž pod Ralskem and Mydlovary, Czech Republic. In these areas, the dose equivalent rate was also determined at the sampling locations and additionally also during walkabouts in the surroundings of sludge fields. The activity concentration of water samples was 0.06 ± 0.02 BqL–1 for 226Ra and 0.07 ± 0.07 mgL–1 for 238U while the mean activity concentrations of soil samples were 74 ± 70 Bqkg–1 and 80 ± 77 Bqkg–1 for 226Ra and 238U, respectively. The average value of the dose equivalent rate was of 0.15 ± 0.1 µSvh–1. These values conform with the nature of the industrial activities which were carried out in the areas and are comparable with measurement results in similar locations worldwide.

Keywords

• environmental radioactivity
• activity concentration
• dose equivalent rate
• uranium industry