Study of radionuclide distribution around Kudankulam nuclear power plant site (Agastheeswaram taluk of Kanyakumari district, India)

The activity concentration of primordial radionuclides 2 3 8 U, 2 3 2 Th and 4 0 K have been measured in the sand samples of Agastheeswaram taluk of Kanyakumari district using gamma-ray spectrometer. The average activity of 2 3 2 Th, 2 3 8 U and 4 0 K are found to be 5787.1, 1082.9 Bq kg - 1 and BDL, respectively. The total average absorbed dose rate owing to the presence of 2 3 2 Th, 2 3 8 U and 4 0 K is found to be 3900.4 nGy h - 1 . The annual effective dose is 4.7 mSv y - 1 and the results are discussed in this paper.