Distribution of ⁴⁰K, ²³²Th and ²³⁸U in Soils of Southern and Western Coasts of Viti Levu, Fiji

Abstract

Abstract A 10 cm (diameter) x 7.5 cm NaI(Tl) gamma-ray spectrometer was used to measure the concentrations of ⁴⁰K, ²³²Th and ²³⁸U in 50 samples of top soils of the southern and western coasts of Viti Levu, the largest island of the Republic of Fiji Islands. The average activities of ²³²Th, ²³⁸U and ⁴⁰K in soils of this region were 2.8, 3.6 and 160 Bq kg^-1, respectively. The average external gamma-dose, which is likely to be delivered to the local population in this region, is estimated to be 10.3 nGy h^-1, well below the world average.