The natural radioactivity in Guarani aquifer groundwater, Brazil.

The measurements of gross alpha and gross beta radioactivity in groundwater samples from Guarani aquifer in Brazil are reported in this paper together with the activity concentration of the natural dissolved radionuclides (40)K, (238)U, (234)U, (226)Ra, (222)Rn, (210)Po, (210)Pb, (232)Th, (228Th), and (228)Ra. Most of the gross alpha radioactivity values were below the critical level of detection corresponding to 1mBq/L, however, the whole data set for the gross beta radioactivity and radionuclides (40)K, (238)U, (234)U, (226)Ra, (222)Rn, (210)Po, (210)Pb, and (228)Ra was submitted to a statistical treatment, considering class intervals arranged in geometric progression, because of the great variability of the activity. The analysis indicated lognormal distribution of the data, as usually observed in samples taken from the natural context. An inverse relationship between the gross alpha and gross beta activity has been identified and is related to an increase in the K content in the water. The mobility coefficient has been estimated for (238)U, (226)Ra, (232)Th and (228)Ra in Guarani aquifer and the results indicated that the radioelement solubility in the studied system varies according to the following order: radium>uranium>thorium. The implications of the data obtained in terms of standards established for defining the drinking water quality have also been discussed.     

山东省非铀矿山氡浓度测量及所致矿工剂量

目的 调查山东省典型非铀矿山井下²²²Rn浓度并估算矿工接受年有效剂量。方法 利用固体径迹探测器CR-39累积测量金矿、铁矿、煤矿井下²²⁰Rn、²²²Rn浓度,利用高纯锗γ谱仪分析矿石²²⁶Ra、²³²Th、⁴⁰K活度浓度。结果 山东非铀矿山井下²²⁰Rn浓度平均值由高到低依次为金矿、铁矿、煤矿、黏土矿,分别为1200、280、120和40 Bq/m³;煤矿、金矿、黏土矿和铁矿的²²⁶Ra、²³²Th、⁴⁰K活度浓度基本处于我国土壤天然放射性核素浓度范围内;²²²Rn及其子体所致井下矿工年有效剂量,金矿最高为7.7 mSv,铁矿次之,为1.7 mSv,煤矿和黏土矿均低于1 mSv。结论 金矿和铁矿应采取加大通风能力等措施降低井下氡浓度,井下矿工应该作为职业照射人员进行管理。     

Natural radioactivity in underground water from the Outer Carpathians in Poland with the use of nuclear spectrometry techniques

The investigations of natural radioactivity in underground mineral water and spring water in health resorts in the Outer Carpathians were performed. Samples from 40 water springs were collected 3–4 times over a period of 10 years (1997–2007). In order to obtain necessary data, two different nuclear spectrometry techniques were applied: WinSpectral α?β 1414 liquid scintillation counter from Wallac and α-spectrometer 7401 VR from Canberra–Packard, USA with the silicon surface barrier detector. The activity concentrations of ²²²Rn in the investigated samples varied from below 1 to 50 Bq/l. For radium isotopes the concentrations were in a range from below 10 to 490 mBq/l for ²²⁶Ra and from 29 to 397 mBq/l for ²²⁸Ra. The highest concentrations for both radium isotopes were obtained for medicinal water Zuber III from Krynica spa. The activity concentrations for uranium isotopes varied from below 0.5 to 16 mBq/l for ²³⁸U and from below 0.5 to 162 mBq/l for ²³⁴U with the highest values obtained for water Zuber IV. The highest annual effective dose arising from mainly radium isotopes was obtained for Zuber III water and was equal to 75 μSv/yr. Additionally, the annual effective doses due to ²²²Rn consumed with water were also estimated. The isotopic ratios between isotopes originating from the same decay chain (²³⁴U/²³⁸U, ²²⁶Ra/²³⁸U) and from different radioactive decay chains (²²⁶Ra/²²⁸Ra) were determined. The correlations between different isotopes were presented.     

Disequilibrium in naturally occurring radioactive series in some phosphate ores

Eight phosphate ore samples from Egypt and Saudi Arabia were studied by atomic absorption spectrometry for the Bi, Pb, Th and Al concentrations in ppm or ppb or per cent. Also X-ray diffraction spectrometry was applied for determining the mineral and chemical composition of the phosphate ore samples. A gamma spectrometry system, based on HPGe crystal, was applied for determining the concentrations of the radioactive elements in (238)U, (226)Ra and (232)Th series as well as (40)K, in Bq/kg dry weight. Concentrations in ppm were found to be from <10.0 to 20.48, from <7.50 to 27.30 and from <1.0 to 50.0 for Bi, Pb and Th, respectively. Al ranged from <0.05 to 3.13%. Major, minor and trace chemical and mineral compositions were assigned for each sample by XRD spectrometry. Concentrations of the different elements in both radioactive series, (238)U, (226)Ra and (232)Th were compared. Disequilibrium was found in both series.     

Assessment of environmental radioactivity at uranium mining, processing and tailings management facility at Jaduguda, India

The uranium mines at Jaduguda and nearby areas of the Singhbhum thrust belt of Jharkhand State are the only operating mines in India, which supply fuel to nuclear power plants. The gamma radiation dose rates observed at different locations 1m above the tailings surface vary from 0.8 to 3.3muGyh(-1). The geometric mean activity concentration of (222)Rn in air over the tailings ponds I and II were found to be 30 and 23Bqm(-3), respectively, but reduces to the local background level at the boundaries of the tailings ponds. The uranium and (226)Ra levels in the ground water sources in the vicinity of the tailings pond are very similar to the regional average of 3.6mugL(-1) and 23mBqL(-1), respectively, indicating that there is no ground water migration of radioactive material from the tailings pond. This paper gives a brief account of the environmental radioactivity monitoring during uranium mining, ore processing and waste management operations.     

222Rn, 226Ra and hydrochemistry in the Bauru Aquifer System,São José do Rio Preto (SP), Brazil

In this paper, the ²²²Rn and ²²⁶Ra activity concentration was measured in groundwater samples collected from the Bauru Aquifer System, São José do Rio Preto city, São Paulo State, Brazil. The site has been selected for a detailed radiometric survey due to the large number of tubular wells drilled in the aquifer there, which provide water for ~70% of the local population. Despite the importance of groundwater for the local water-supply system, there is a lack of both ²²²Rn and ²²⁶Ra data in the municipality. Establishment of these data is relevant to assure that the water quality from a radiological point of view, is not health threat. São José do Rio Preto city is geologically situated in Bauru Group that is located within the Paraná sedimentary basin. The monitoring program involved the collection of 50 groundwater samples from deep tubular wells during three field campaigns held from 17th to 19th January 2011, from 2nd to 3rd August 2011 and in 30th November 2011. Temperature and pH readings were realized in the field, whereas ²²²Rn and ²²⁶Ra analysis were performed at the laboratory using the Alpha Guard-Aquakit analytical protocol, which allowed us to obtain ²²²Rn activity concentration ranging from 0.69 to 14.95 Bq/L. These data indicate that the abundances of ²²²Rn and ²²⁶Ra in the groundwater system of Bauru Group is below the WHO guideline limit of 100 Bq/L. Chemical analysis has been also realized for major cations and anions in order to better understand the water features in the municipality.     

238U 226Ra 210Pb, 232Th and 40K activities in soil profiles of the Flysch sector (Central Spanish Pyrenees).

Distributions of natural gamma-emitting radionuclides were determined in three soil profiles developed on Tertiary sedimentary materials in mountain landscapes of the Central Spanish Pyrenees. Radioisotope activities (Bq kg(-1)) lie in the range of 0-53 for 238U; 19-33 for 226Ra; 7-75 for 210Pb; 24-48 for 232Th and 335-562 for 40K. 238U and 210Pb activities show an important variability down the soil profiles. 238U was markedly depleted in all upper soil layers and highly enriched in lower layers of two soil profiles. 210Pb exhibits very dissimilar distribution patterns in all three soils. 226Ra and 232Th had quite uniform depth distributions. 40K showed depletion in both upper and lower layers in one soil profile but remained fairly constant in the other two profiles. 238U/226Ra activity ratios (ARs) have been used to assess equilibrium in the 238U decay chain and as indicators of edaphogenesis in the studied soil profiles. Maintenance of initial proportionality in the ratio of 232Th/238U activities has been assessed through ARs of their progenies. Additionally, a variety of soil properties were measured down the soil profiles. Among soils, variation in radionuclide activies may be due to differences in carbonate content, organic matter and/or grain size. In this environment, soil properties differently affect mobilization of natural radionuclides. The association of some radiologic properties with soil layers suggest a relationship between soil processes and radionuclide distribution.     

Natural radioactivity levels in granitic plutons and groundwaters in Southeast part of Eskisehir, Turkey.

The present work investigated the radioactivity level of the granitoid plutons and its effect on the groundwaters in the southeast part of Eskisehir. Fourteen granitic samples from the Kaymaz and Sivrihisar plutons and 11 groundwater samples from the near vicinity of the pluton were analyzed. The activity concentrations measured for (238)U and (232)Th ranged from 43.59+/-2 to 651.80+/-24 Bq/kg, and 51.16+/-3 to 351.94+/-13 Bq/kg, respectively. The activity concentrations obtained for (40)K varied from 418.50+/-17 to 1618.03+/-66 Bq/kg. The absorbed dose rates in air outdoors ranged from 87.14 to 531.81 nGy/h. All the results obtained from the Kaymaz pluton are higher than those from the Sivrihisar. The U (ave. 16.6 ppm) and Th (ave. 49.9 ppm) values of the Kaymaz pluton are higher than the average concentrations of the magmatic rocks of granitic composition. These results are consistent with high dose rates of the pluton. The gross-alpha activities in the groundwater samples ranged from 0.009 to 1.64 Bq/l and the gross-beta activities from 0.006 to 0.89 Bq/l. The highest gross-alpha value was found in the sample taken from near the Kaymaz pluton. The concentrations of (222)Rn varied from 0.060 to 0.557 Bq/l.     

Behavior and environmental impacts of radionuclides during the hydrometallurgy of calcareous and argillaceous rocks, southwestern Sinai, Egypt

The hydrometallurgy of radionuclides means getting the radioelements from the rocks into solution by leaching, getting the radionuclides from the solution by extraction process, and then precipitation of the desired elements to obtain concentrate. The follow-up of the radionuclides during these processes is the main target of this work to identify the identity of the original samples, pregnant solutions (leachates), residuals and the concentrate. Six samples were chosen to achieve this work. The leaching process was carried out under the conditions; 20-30% acid (H(2)SO(4)) concentration, 1:3 solid/liquid ratios, 60 min stirring time at room temperature. The activity concentrations of (238)U, (235)U, (234)U, (226)Ra, (214)Pb, (214)Bi, (232)Th and (40)K were measured in the original samples, residuals and U-concentrate (Bq/kg), and leachates (Bq/?). The results indicate that, the radionuclides before (226)Ra in the (238)U decay series are more leachable (released) than those from (226)Ra to (214)Bi in the order; (234)U>(238)U=(235)U > (226)Ra>(214)Pb>(214)Bi. (232)Th and (40)K are immobile under the present conditions. The radiological hazards of natural radioactivity in the original samples, leachates, residuals and U-concentrate were calculated and compared with the internationally recommended values and were found to be much higher than the world average values.     

Reduction of the dimensionality and comparative analysis of multivariate radiological data

Computational methods were used to reduce the dimensionality and to find clusters of multivariate data. The variables were the natural radioactivity contents and the texture characteristics of sand samples. The application of discriminate analysis revealed that samples with high negative values of the former score have the highest contamination with black sand. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that radioactivity concentrations alone are sufficient for the classification. Rough set analysis (RSA) showed that the concentration of ²³⁸U, ²²⁶Ra or ²³²Th, combined with the concentration of ⁴⁰K, can specify the clusters and characteristics of the sand. Both PCA and RSA show that ²³⁸U, ²²⁶Ra and ²³²Th behave similarly. RSA revealed that one or two of them can be omitted without degrading predictions.     

Simultaneous determination of 226Ra, 233U and 237Np by liquid scintillation spectrometry.

A method has been developed for the simultaneous determination of 226Ra, 233U and 237Np by liquid-scintillation (LS) spectrometry. This method consists of the evaluation of the alpha-spectrum that is composed of the strongly overlapping peaks of 226Ra, 233U, 237Np, 222Rn and 218Po in the energy range of 4.60-6.00 MeV and the single 214Po peak at 7.69 MeV. The alpha-peaks are analysed by a special peak fit function that considers the deviation of the alpha-peak at the low energy side from the pure Gaussian shape. First 237Np is determined using its daughter 233Pa by analysing the beta-spectrum in the range 150-570 keV. 226Ra follows from the alpha-spectrum that is measured 6 weeks after sample preparation, i.e., 226Ra is determined from the radioactive equilibrium with its short-lived daughters 222Rn, 218Po and 214Po. Finally the 233U activity results from the fitted spectrum in the range of 4.4-4.8 MeV by subtracting the activity of 226Ra and 237Np. Knowing the exact energy position of the LS-peaks an alternative evaluation consists in the accurate deconvolution of the first three peaks that are formed by 226Ra and 233U (maximum of both at channel 700), 237Np (maxima at channels 700 and 725) and 222Rn (maximum at channel 737). In these two ways 226Ra, 233U and 237Np can be determined in mutual activity ratios of 1:50 with a relative standard deviation of less than 4% for the major activity and 9% for the minor activity.     

云南省部分地区大米和玉米放射性核素水平调查

目的 调查云南省部分地区大米和玉米放射性核素水平,充实云南地区食品放射性水平基线数据,评估其对居民产生的健康风险。方法 依据国家标准《生物样品中放射性核素的γ能谱分析方法》《高纯锗γ能谱分析通用方法》《食品中放射性物质检验总则》《土壤中放射性核素的γ能谱分析方法》,对云南省20个县（区）大米和玉米样品进行放射性核素检测,对检测结果进行处理与分析。结果 大米样品中²³⁸U、²³²Th、²²⁶Ra、⁴⁰K和¹³⁷Cs活度浓度均值分别为（0.416±0.403）、（0.045±0.034）、（0.030±0.013）、（28.4±18.8）和（0.014±0.019）Bq/kg,玉米样品中²³⁸U、²³²Th、²²⁶Ra、⁴⁰K活度浓度均值分别为（0.308±0.230）、（0.035±0.031）、（0.053±0.072）、（56.8±38.6）Bq/kg,¹³⁷Cs的活度浓度低于探测下限。结论 云南省20个县（区）大米和玉米中²³⁸U、²³²Th、²²⁶Ra、⁴⁰K和¹³⁷Cs的放射性水平均在国家标准正常范围内,食入后不会对居民的健康造成影响。     

The effect of uranium migration on radionuclide distributions for soil samples at the El-Gor area,Sinai, Egypt

The concentrations and distributions of the activity of natural radionuclides in soil samples were investigated in fifteen soil samples at El-Gor area representing two profiles (A and B) using a HP–Ge detector and alpha counting by SSNTD (CR-39), respectively. The average concentrations of the radionuclides ²³⁸U, ²²⁶Ra, ²³⁵U, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K are 203.4, 177.23, 9.77, 43.33 and 386.22 Bq kg⁻¹ (dry weight), respectively, and profile A and ²³⁸U, ²²⁶Ra, ²³⁵U, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K have average concentrations of 232.58, 246, 11.7, 31.7, and 277.07 Bq kg⁻¹ for profile B, respectively. The eTh and eU were estimated to detect the migration process of uranium into or out of an area or uranium to or from the studied profiles. The results indicate a migration of uranium by 29% for profile A and 65.37% for profile B. The activity ratio (²³⁸U/²²⁶Ra) was found to be 0.9 in profile A and 1.15 in profile B. These ratios coincide with the uranium migration processes. The responsible mass corresponding to the measured ²²⁶Ra activity was also calculated. The radon activity concentrations for the two profiles are nearly 300 Bq m⁻³. The emanation coefficient (η) was calculated from the ratio of the expected radon activity to the measured radon for the studied soil samples. The value of η was found to depend only on the radium activity regardless to soil formation.     

Distribution of natural and anthropogenic radionuclides in soil and beach sand samples of Kalpakkam (India) using hyper pure germanium (HPGe) gamma ray spectrometry.

Pre-operational survey at Kalpakkam coast, indicated elevated gamma background radiation levels in the range of 100-4000 nGy h(-1) over the large tracts of the coastal sands due to the presence of pockets of monazite mineral in beach sands. In view of the prevalence of monazite, a systematic gamma spectrometric study of distribution of natural radionuclides in soil and beach sand samples collected from the terrestrial and coastal environment of Kalpakkam was performed and concentrations of primordial radionuclides such as 238U, 232Th and 40K and anthropogenic radionuclide 137Cs were determined. The concentrations of 238U, 232Th and 40K in soil samples were 5-71, 15-776 and 200-854 Bq kg(-1) dry, respectively. In beach sand samples, 238U, 232Th and 40K contents varied in the range of 36-258, 352-3872 and 324-405 Bq kg(-1) dry, respectively. The total absorbed gamma dose rate in air due to the presence of 238U, 232Th and 40K in Kalpakkam soil samples varied between 24 and 556 nGy h(-1) with a mean of 103 nGy h(-1). The contribution to the total absorbed gamma dose rate in air in the decreasing order was due to the presence of 232Th (76.4%), followed by 40K (16.9%) and 238U (6.7%) in Kalpakkam soils. However, in beach areas of Kalpakkam, the presence of 232Th in beach sand contributed maximum (94.0%) to the total absorbed gamma dose rate in air followed by 238U (4.7%) and minimum contribution was by 40K (1.3%). 137Cs in Kalpakkam soils ranged from < or = 1.0 to 2.8 Bq kg(-1) dry, which was 1-3 order of magnitude less than the concentration of primordial radionuclides in soil.     

Uranium series disequilibria in ground waters from a fractured bedrock aquifer (Morungaba Granitoids-Southern Brazil): Implications to the hydrochemical behavior of dissolved U and Ra.

Activity concentrations of dissolved (234)U, (238)U, (226)Ra and (228)Ra were determined in ground waters from two deep wells drilled in Morungaba Granitoids (Southern Brazil). Sampling was done monthly for little longer than 1 year. Significant disequilibrium between (238)U, (234)U and (226)Ra were observed in all samples. The variation of (238)U and (234)U activity concentrations and (234)U/(238)U activity ratios is related to seasonal changes. Although the distance between the two wells is short (about 900m), systematic differences of activity concentrations of U isotopes, as well as of (234)U/(238)U, (226)Ra/(234)U and (228)Ra/(226)Ra activity ratios were noticed, indicating distinct host rock-water interactions. Slightly acidic ground water percolation through heterogeneous host rock, associated with different recharge processes, may explain uranium and radium isotope behavior.     

Spatial and monthly variations of radium isotopes in produced water during oil production.

Spatial and monthly variations of radium isotope concentrations in produced water have been evaluated during oil production. Samples of produced water were collected and analyzed on a monthly basis over a period of 5 months, the samples being derived from 11 main oil production wells at three Syrian oilfields. The highest average 226Ra, 228Ra and 224Ra concentrations in these samples of water were found to be 41, 37.5 and 1.1 Bql(-1), respectively. The data obtained for 226Ra, 228Ra and the 228Ra/226Ra activity ratio were evaluated statistically and displayed using the Box Plot method; clear variations can be observed from one field to another, indicating differences in the geological formation of the reservoir. The 228Ra/226Ra activity ratio variations reflect the variability of the Th/U mass ratio of the geological formation, suggesting two different source rock types. The calculated mean Th/U mass ratio for these two possible types of source rock were 2.4 and 5.78. In addition, the 228Ra/226Ra mean activity ratio was also used to estimate the age of some deposited scales in tubulars; the results were compared with the 224Ra/228Ra activity ratio dating method. Monthly variations of 226Ra and 228Ra activity concentrations and the 228Ra/226Ra activity ratio in produced water were also observed, the major causes for these variations being related to the type of injection water and interwell reactions. Possible relationships between 226Ra and 228Ra activity concentrations, the 228Ra/226Ra activity ratio and physical and chemical properties of produced water were statistically evaluated; no linear correlations were found.     

Comparison of two direct LS methods for measuring 222Rn in drinking water using α/β liquid scintillation spectrometry

Direct liquid scintillation (LS) methods are widely used for surveying ²²²Rn in drinking water. Two direct methods are used that differ in sample composition. In a two-phase sample, water lies below a water-immiscible cocktail, while in a homogeneous sample water is mixed with an emulsifying cocktail. Although these methods were developed in the late 1970s, their performances have not been simultaneously tested. Here, the methods were compared in two ways: by preparing both types of sample similarly from ²²²Rn-bearing groundwater in one emulsifying and in three organic cocktails, and by calibrating the methods with a ²²⁶Ra standard according to their respective procedures. The samples were measured using α/β LS spectrometry. The standard deviations of parallel samples and the repeatability of the measurements were excellent for both methods, except two-phase ²²⁶Ra samples, whose efficiencies decreased slightly over time. This instability was due to interference from ²¹⁰Pb, ²¹⁰Bi and ²¹⁰Po, which accumulated in the ²²⁶Ra standard, and possibly also to the migration of ²¹⁴Pb and ²¹⁴Bi into the aqueous phase and deficient transfer of ²²²Rn from the water to the cocktail.     

Estimation of annual effective dose due to ingestion of natural radionuclides in foodstuffs and water at a proposed uranium mining site in India

Abstract

Purpose: To study the distribution of ²¹⁰Po, ²²⁶Ra, ²³⁰Th and U(nat) (naturally occurring radioisotopes of uranium [²³⁴U, ²³⁵U and ²³⁸U]) in food and water around the Bagjata uranium mining area in India.

Materials and methods: Radionuclides were analyzed in food samples of plant and animal origin after acid digestion. Intake and ingestion dose of the radionuclides were estimated.

Results: ²¹⁰Po, ²²⁶Ra, ²³⁰Th and U(nat) in all the dietary components ranged widely from < 0.2–36, < 0.02–1.58, < 0.01–2.8 and < 0.017–0.39 Bqkg^-1, respectively. The range of ²²⁶Ra and U(nat) in water was < 3.5–206 and < 12.6–693 mBql^?1, respectively. The intake of radionuclides considering food and water was calculated to be 760 BqY^?1 while the ingestion dose was 601 μSvY^?1. The estimated doses reflect the natural background dose via route of ingestion, which is below the 1 mSvY^?1 limit set by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP). However, the doses are more than the dose constraint of 300 μSvY^?1 as suggested by the ICRP for members of the public for planned disposal of long-lived radioactive waste.

Conclusion: The study confirms that current levels of radionuclides do not pose significant radiological risk to the local inhabitants, but they need close investigation in the near future.     

Radioactivity levels of recent sediments in the Butrint Lagoon and the adjacent coast of Albania.

Sediment samples have been collected in the Butrint area, located in the south-west Albania to determine the radioactivity levels of (40)K, (137)Cs, (212)Bi, (212)Pb, (214)Bi, (214)Pb, (226)Ra and (228)Ac on the bed of the lagoon and adjacent sea, using direct counting gamma spectroscopy. The concentration of (137)Cs and (40)K varied from 2.8 to 37.5 Bq/kg and from 266 to 675 Bq/kg dry weight (dw), respectively (central values). The average concentrations of (238)U and (232)Th daughter products varied from 8 to 27 Bq/kg and from 13 to 40 Bq/kg dw, respectively. The measured (235)U activity ranged from 0.7 to 2.5 Bq/kg dw. Samples of different sedimentary properties, studied for the radioactivity concentration, revealed an inversely proportional relation between grain size and a linear combination of measured specific activities of (226)Ra, (232)Th ((228)Ac, (212)Bi and (212)Pb), (40)K and (137)Cs.     

Determination of the natural radioactivity levels in north west of Dukhan, Qatar using high-resolution gamma-ray spectrometry

This study is aimed at the determination of the activity concentrations of naturally occuring and technologically enhanced levels of radiation in 34 representative soil samples that have been collected from an inshore oil field area which was found to have, in a previous study, the highest observed value of 226Ra concentration among 129 soil samples. The activity concentrations of 238U and 226Ra have been inferred from gamma-ray transitions associated with their decay progenies and measured using a hyper-pure germanium detector. Details of the sample preparation and the gamma-ray spectroscopic analysis techniques are presented, together with the values of the activity concentrations associated with the naturally occuring radionuclide chains for all the samples collected from NW Dukhan. Discrete-line, gamma-ray energy transitions from spectral lines ranging in energy from ～100 keV up to 2.6 MeV have been associated with characteristic decays of the various decay products within the 235.8U and 232Th radioactive decay chains. These data have been analyzed, under the assumption of secular equilibrium for the U and Th decay chains. Details of the sample preparation and the gamma-ray spectroscopic analysis techniques are presented. The weighted mean value of the activity concentrations of 226Ra in one of the samples was found to be around a factor of 2 higher than the values obtained in the previous study and approximately a factor of 10 higher than the accepted worldwide average value of 35 Bq/kg. The weighted mean values of the activity concentrations of 232Th and 40K were also deduced and found to be within the worldwide average values of 30 and 400 Bq/kg, respectively. Our previous study reported a value of 201.9±1.5Stat.±13Syst.Bq/kg for 226Ra in one sample and further investigation in the current work determined a measured value for 226Ra of 342.00±1.9Stat.±25Syst.Bq/kg in a sample taken from the same locality. This is significantly higher than all the other investigated soil samples in the current and previous works. Notably, the Th levels in the same sample are within the worldwide average expectations, implying that the increased 226Ra concentration arises from TENORM processes.