The activity of radionuclides in different samples from the environment in Vojvodina (Northern Province of Serbia)

Abstract

Peaceful uses of nuclear energy (nuclear weapons testing, nuclear reactor accidents, industrial and medical use of radioactive compounds) and application of phosphate mineral fertilizers in agricultural production lead to substantial environmental contamination. Land contaminated with radionuclides represents the first link in the food chain and hence the radioactive contamination of crop and livestock production. Activity of radionuclides gamma emitters were determined by the method of low-level gamma spectrometry on high resolution HPGe detector system produced by "ORTEC". Concentrations of thorium and uranium in all samples were analysed by a technique of inductively coupled plasma with mass spectrometry (ICP-MS 7700, Agilent). The results revealed the presence of the following natural radionuclides: 40K, 226Ra, 232Th, 235U and 238U. The presence of anthropogenic radionuclides, 137Cs (the soil) and 90Sr (fish meal), was also determined. One can conclude that, in all investigated samples, 40K was the predominant natural radionuclide as compared to other radionuclides.