Abstract
An analysis of metallic
elements and natural radioactivity in soils collected from two
shipyards and their surroundings in Chittagong, Bangladesh is
presented. The elemental concentrations of the metals Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni
and Cu were obtained by PIXE analysis with a 3 MV Tandem
Accelerator, and the radioactivity of
Ra,
Th and
K was determined using HPGe
gamma-ray spectrometry. From the mean specific activities of the three
radionuclides in soil samples, the radium equivalent activity, the
gamma absorbed dose rate, the annual effective dose rate and the
external hazard index were calculated. The study was focused on
investigation of soil contamination via shipbreaking
activities, if any. The somewhat higher contents of Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni and
Cu in soil samples of shipyards, as compared to other locations, seem
to be caused by the shipbreaking activities. The specific
radioactivities as well as radium equivalent activity in soils of
shipyards are also higher and thus possibly an indirect result of
shipbreaking activities.