Assessment of radiation exposure to human and non-human biota due to natural radionuclides in terrestrial environment of Belgrade, the capital of Serbia

Abstract

The main focus of this study was to assess radiation exposure to human and non-human biota due to natural radionuclides in soil of the Serbian capital. For the first time, ERICA tool was employed for calculation of gamma dose rates to non-human biota in this area. In analyzed soils, the mean values of Ra-226, Th-232 and K-40 specific activities were found to be 35, 43 and 490 Bq kg(-1), respectively. The distribution of analyzed natural radionuclides in soils was discussed in respect to its statistically significant correlations with sand, silt, clay, carbonates, cation exchange capacity and pH value. The annual outdoor effective dose rates to the population varied from 48 to 98 mu Sv, and the total dose rates to terrestrial biota, calculated by ERICA tool, varied from 9.84 x 10(-2) mu Gy h(-1) (for tree) to 5.54 x 10(+0) mu Gy h(-1) (for lichen and bryophytes). The results obtained could serve as a baseline data for the assessment of possible anthropogenic enhancement of the total dose rate to human and non-human biota of the study area.