Study of natural background gamma radiation levels in Hyderabad and its surroundings, Andhra Pradesh, India

Abstract

778-781The natural background gamma radiation levels were measured in the dwellings of urban Hyderabad and its surroundings using thermoluminescence (TL) dosimeters and Geiger-Muller based R-survey meter. The measured minimum, maximum and average radiation levels were found to be 226, 506 and 314±47 nGyh−1 for urban Hyderabad and 190, 462 and 309± 81 nGyh−1 for surroundings of Hyderabad. In this study, the natural background gamma radiation levels in different dwellings with types of constructions have been correlated. It was found that these levels are higher in the constructions made by mud, which is of local soil. The annual effective dose due to natural background gamma radiation exposure in the Hyderabad and its surroundings is calculated and found to be 1.54±0.23 mSv and 1.52±0.40 mSv, respectively