Assessment of environmental gamma dose in northern rechna doab in Pakistan

Abstract

Environmental gamma radiation levels in northern Rechna Doab, Pakistan, were measured as a part of systematic study aimed at the establishment of the background database of radiation and radioactivity levels. The measurements reported in this paper were made with portable radiation monitor which employed GM tube and was calibrated against secondary standard do simetry system. The average absorbed dose rate in air was determined to vary from 86.0 nGy/h to 139.1 nGy/h with the mean value of 109.1 nGy/h. The annual effective dose remained within the range of 105.47 μSv to 170.54 μSv with its aver age value of 133.73 μSv. These environ mental radiation doses in the area were comparable with those re ported for other countries. It was concluded that the prevalent radiation levels did not pose any significant radiological health hazard to the population.