"Um estudo sobre o desequilíbrio radioativo da série do urânio em amostras de solo" / A study on radioactive disequilibrium of the uranium series in soil samples.

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2006

RESUMO

The specific activities of 238U , 226Ra, 210Pb, 232Th and 40K were measured, and the 226Ra/238U and 210Pb/226Ra activity ratios were calculated for samples collected in a 2.10 m deep soil profile in a preserved area of the São Paulo Botanic Garden. The sampling site is covered by dense vegetation that, together with the upper soil layer, has not been disturbed since, al least, 1938. The upper 0.60 m of the soil profile corresponds to the O and A soil horizons, whereas the remaining 1.50 m of the profile corresponds to the B horizon. The 210Pb specific activity measurements were corrected for the attenuation of the 46.5 keV gamma radiation by the soil mineral matrix. The attenuation correction procedure is based on the available literature and was adapted to represent the detection geometry of the measurements. The results show that the uranium series is in radioactive disequilibrium in most of the sampled soil. The 226Ra/238U activity ratios vary around 0.9 whereas the 210Pb/226Ra activity ratios resulted in a mean value of 0.7. The unsupported 210Pb specific activities are between -8 Bq/kg and -18 Bq/kg. The 232Th series is in secular radioactive equilibrium in the whole sampled soil layer. The 232Th specific activity distribution seems to reflect the concentration of clay minerals in the soil horizon B. The 40K radionuclide is irregulary distributed in the whole sampled soil layer and it?s specific activities varying from below detection limit to about 37.8 Bq/kg.

ASSUNTO(S)

séries radioativas. rádio radioactive series. chumbo radioativo radioactive lead radium radioatividade do solo soil radioactivity

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