Distribution of radionuclides and associated radiological risk assessment of soils from Niška Banja, Serbia

The activity concentrations of 226 Ra, 232 Th and 40 K were determined in 43 soil samples collected from 0 to 10 cm and 10 to 50 cm depths of Niška Banja region, Serbia, using a low background gamma spectroscopy with 3″ × 3″ NaI(Tl) scintillation detector. The mean absorbed dose rate of 0–10 cm and 10–50 cm depth soil were 66.1 and 60.4 nGy/h, respectively which was close to UNSCEAR worldwide value. The radium equivalent and annual effective dose effect were lower than the permissible level. Therefore, there is no significant radiological risk from the soil to residents living in this region.