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Title
Radiometric Assessment and Radiological Hazard Evaluation of Soil around the Mymensingh 210 MW Combined Cycle Power Plant, Bangladesh

Author
, Mayeen Uddin Khandakar,

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Abstract

This study explores the distribution and radiological impact of transporting naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORMs) in soils collected from the vicinity of the Mymensingh 210 MW Combined (heavy fuel oil/gas) Cycle Power Plant in Bangladesh. Twenty-five soil samples were systematically collected at radial distances of 250, 500, and 1000 m from the power plant to assess the spatial variation in radioactivity levels. The measured activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K ranged from 18 ± 1 to 34  ±  3, from 23 ± 2 to 60 ± 5, and from 340 ± 29 to 550 ± 35 Bq/kg, respectively. Although the 226Ra level did not exceed global average values, high levels of 232Th and 40K, exceeding world average values, were revealed. Contrary to expectations of a gradual decrease in the radionuclide concentrations with increasing distance from the power station, their levels actually varied nonmonotonically. The results obtained can be explained by high variability of geological background conditions, mobility of radionuclides, and human impact on the environment. While radium equivalent activity and general hazard index were within international safety standards, some samples exceeded these values, which could lead to a potential threat to public health. Multivariate statistics analysis showed that 226Ra and 232Th were the main factors causing radiological hazard in the research area, whereas 40K showed completely different behavior and formed a special cluster due to the presence of other geochemical processes related to its formation.


Keywords

Journal or Conference Name
Radiochemistry

Publication Year
2026

Indexing
scopus