Abstract
238
U,
232
Th,
226
Ra,
222
Rn and
40
K activity concentrations in fertilizer samples collected from a local market were determined. Radon activity concentrations ranged from 0.04–252 Bq kg
−1
and were comparable with low activity concentrations ranges reported previously. Radon exhalation rates and effective
226
Ra concentration were determined using CR-39 solid-state nuclear track detectors. Effective
226
Ra concentrations ranged from 4.27–33.93 Bq kg
−1
. Two different
222
Rn exhalation rates were determined; area dependent exhalation rates (0.044–0.351 Bq m
−2
h
−1
) and mass dependent exhalation rates (0.023–0.180) Bq kg
−1
h
−1
). Even without secular equilibrium, strong correlations were generally apparent among uranium concentrations, effective
226
Ra concentrations and
222
Rn exhalation rates in samples with high concentrations of uranium.
232
Th and
40
K concentrations ranged from 0–44.6 and 0.08–127 μg/g, respectively.