Search

Natural background gamma radiation levels were estimated in indoors and outdoors of the surrounding seven villages of Devarakonda town, these villages are at a distance of 15 to 20 kms from the proposed uranium mining area, in the Telangana State, with µR survey meter and Thermoluminescence Dosimeters (TLDs). The estimated average absorbed dose rates in the indoors and outdoors with survey meter were found to be 233 ± 68 nGy h−1 and 204 ± 55 nGy h−1, respectively, and estimated average gamma radiation levels with TLDs in the indoors were found to be 318 ± 48 nGy h−1. The estimated dose rate is about four times higher than the national average. The distribution of gamma activity concentration in the study area is observed to be followed normal distribution. An attempt has been made to find out the cause of gamma radiation levels in the dwellings and calculated the effective dose rate due to gamma radiation levels to the public living in these villages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]