TY - JOUR
T1 - Radon levels in groundwaters and natural radioactivity in soils of the volcanic region of La Garrotxa, Spain
AU - Moreno, V.
AU - Bach, J.
AU - Baixeras, C.
AU - Font, Ll
N1 - Funding Information:
This work has been supported by the Parc Natural de la Zona Volcànica de la Garrotxa and the Beca Ciutat d'Olot awarded in 2008.
PY - 2014/2
Y1 - 2014/2
N2 - Groundwater radon level and soil radionuclide concentration have been measured in the volcanic region of La Garrotxa (Catalonia, Spain) to further research on the origin and dynamics of high radon levels over volcanic materials found in this region. Water samples from different aquifers have been collected from wells and springs and the water radon levels obtained have been lower than 30Bql-1. Soil samples have been collected from different geological formations (volcanic and non-volcanic), being Quaternary sedimentary deposits those that have presented the highest mean values of 40K, 226Ra and 232Th concentrations (448±70Bqkg-1, 35±5Bqkg-1 and 38±5Bqkg-1, respectively). Additionally, indoor/outdoor terrestrial radiation absorbed dose rate in air have been measured to better characterize the region from the radiological point of view. Terrestrial radiation absorbed dose rates measurement points have been chosen on the basis of geological and demographical considerations and the results obtained, from 27 to 91nGyh-1, show a clear relation with geological formation materials. The highest terrestrial gamma absorbed dose rate is observed over Quaternary sedimentary deposits as well. All these results help to better understand previous surveys related with indoor and outdoor radon levels and to reinforce the hypotheses of a radon transport through the fissure network.
AB - Groundwater radon level and soil radionuclide concentration have been measured in the volcanic region of La Garrotxa (Catalonia, Spain) to further research on the origin and dynamics of high radon levels over volcanic materials found in this region. Water samples from different aquifers have been collected from wells and springs and the water radon levels obtained have been lower than 30Bql-1. Soil samples have been collected from different geological formations (volcanic and non-volcanic), being Quaternary sedimentary deposits those that have presented the highest mean values of 40K, 226Ra and 232Th concentrations (448±70Bqkg-1, 35±5Bqkg-1 and 38±5Bqkg-1, respectively). Additionally, indoor/outdoor terrestrial radiation absorbed dose rate in air have been measured to better characterize the region from the radiological point of view. Terrestrial radiation absorbed dose rates measurement points have been chosen on the basis of geological and demographical considerations and the results obtained, from 27 to 91nGyh-1, show a clear relation with geological formation materials. The highest terrestrial gamma absorbed dose rate is observed over Quaternary sedimentary deposits as well. All these results help to better understand previous surveys related with indoor and outdoor radon levels and to reinforce the hypotheses of a radon transport through the fissure network.
KW - Gamma radiation
KW - Groundwater
KW - Radionuclide content
KW - Radon
KW - Volcanic materials
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/84887548411
U2 - 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2013.10.021
DO - 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2013.10.021
M3 - Article
C2 - 24239577
AN - SCOPUS:84887548411
SN - 0265-931X
VL - 128
SP - 1
EP - 8
JO - Journal of Environmental Radioactivity
JF - Journal of Environmental Radioactivity
ER -