Role of sediment characteristics on natural radiation level of the Vaigai river sediment, Tamilnadu, India

• Published in: Journal of environmental radioactivity 2014-01, Vol.127, p.64-74
• Main Authors: Ramasamy, V., Paramasivam, K., Suresh, G., Jose, M.T.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aluminum Silicates; Applied sciences; Background Radiation; Cluster Analysis; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Exact sciences and technology; Factor Analysis, Statistical; Freshwater; Geologic Sediments - analysis; Geologic Sediments - chemistry; India; Magnetic permeability; Magnetics; Minerals - analysis; Multivariate Analysis; Multivariate statistical analysis; Organic matter; Pollution; Pollution sources. Measurement results; Pollution, environment geology; Potassium Radioisotopes - analysis; Radiation Monitoring - methods; Radioactivity; Rivers; Samples; Sand; Sediment characteristics; Sediments; Soil and sediments pollution; Statistical analysis; Statistical methods; Thorium - analysis; Uranium - analysis
• ISSN: 0265-931X; 1879-1700
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2013.09.010

The sediment characteristics such as granulometric contents (sand, silt and clay), organic matter, magnetic susceptibility (low and high frequency) and weight percentage of magnetic minerals and the natural radionuclide (238U, 232Th and 40K) contents have been analyzed for the sediment samples of Vaigai river with an aim of evaluating the radiation hazard nature and assessing characterization of sediment. Granulometric analysis confirmed that the sand is major content. The organic matter content is ranged from 0.30 to 8.62% and comparison shows that the present river has high organic content. The magnetic measurement results indicated that the sites S16, S18 and S25 may be affected anthropogenically. Frequency dependence magnetic susceptibility is calculated to know the contribution of grains to magnetic susceptibility. Average of activity concentrations (except 40K) and all calculated radiological parameters are within the recommended level. Multivariate statistical analyses (Pearson correlation, cluster and factor analysis) dictated that the role of sediment characteristics on the level of radioactivity in the river sediments. The content of organic matter and clay, and magnetic parameters are positively correlated with important radioactive variables. The measurement of organic matter and magnetic susceptibility in various granulometric contents show some higher values in silt and clay fractions. Radioactivity level was also measured for the samples (after removing silt and clay fractions from bulk samples) and the results show decrease in radioactive variables. The present study stated that the lower grain sized fractions have the ability to absorb the contents such as organic content and magnetic minerals as cations on their surface and raise the level of radioactivity. Percentage of decrease in the natural radionuclides of 238U, 232Th, 40K and absorbed dose rate of the samples (after removing the silt and clay fractions from bulk samples) to the bulk samples are 13.59, 33.37, 20.52 and 26.13% respectively. Thus, it is concluded that the radiation effect does not pose to the public those who are using these sediments. Dendrogram shows cluster of variables. Cluster I shows that the radioactivity variables except 40K mainly depends upon the weight percentage of magnetic minerals, organic matter, magnetic susceptibility and content of clay. Cluster II shows that content of sand and silt, and concentration of 40K are acted as a least factor to induce the