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Radionuclide mapping of the Molise region (Central Italy) via gamma-ray spectrometry of soil samples: relationship with geological and pedological parameters

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Abstract

Radionuclide maps of the Molise region were created for the first time using gamma-ray spectrometry analysis of 205 soil samples. The geographical distributions of 40K, 232Th and 238U were within the world average values for soils. 40K was distributed homogeneously with a slight enhancement along the coastline. The decay chains of 238U and 232Th were in secular equilibrium with their daughters, also showing a homogeneous distribution except for localized areas of enhanced concentrations close to the borders with the Lazio and the Campania regions. Concentrations of all three radionuclides were correlated with geological and pedological characteristics of soils. The measured external gamma-dose rate in the air due to naturally occurring radionuclides in the soil, and the dose rate due to cosmic rays were in agreement with values measured in other Mediterranean regions. Increased 137Cs levels from atmospheric nuclear weapons tests and the Chernobyl fallout were found at sites above 1,000 m a.s.l.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the Director Dr. Lucia Votano, the staff of the LNGS and the National Civil Protection Department–Molise for their support. We also thank Prof. Donatello Magaldi for very useful discussions. PPP acknowledges a support provided by the Structural Funds of EU: the Research and Development Operational Program funded by the ERDF (project No. 26240220004).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Gran Sasso National Laboratory, National Institute of Nuclear Physics, S.S. 17/bis km 18+910, 67100, Assergi, AQ, Italy

    Matthias Laubenstein, Piergiorgio Aprili, Marco Balata, Massimiliano De Deo, Benedetto Gallese, Luca Ioannucci & Stefano Nisi

  2. Department of Physics, University of Roma Tre, Via della Vasca Navale 84, 00146, Rome, Italy

    Wolfango Plastino, Valeria Fabbri, Francesco Bella & Angela Cardarelli

  3. National Institute of Nuclear Physics, Section of Roma Tre, Via della Vasca Navale 84, 00146, Rome, Italy

    Wolfango Plastino

  4. Department of Nuclear Physics and Biophysics, Comenius University, 84248, Bratislava, Slovakia

    Pavel P. Povinec

  5. National Civil Protection Department-Molise, Centro Funzionale, 86020, Campochiaro, CB, Italy

    Diego Antonecchia, Christian Del Pinto & Giuseppe Giarrusso

Authors
  1. Matthias Laubenstein
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  2. Wolfango Plastino
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  3. Pavel P. Povinec
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  4. Valeria Fabbri
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  5. Piergiorgio Aprili
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  6. Marco Balata
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  7. Francesco Bella
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  8. Angela Cardarelli
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  9. Massimiliano De Deo
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  10. Benedetto Gallese
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  11. Luca Ioannucci
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  12. Stefano Nisi
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  13. Diego Antonecchia
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  14. Christian Del Pinto
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  15. Giuseppe Giarrusso
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Correspondence to Matthias Laubenstein.

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Laubenstein, M., Plastino, W., Povinec, P.P. et al. Radionuclide mapping of the Molise region (Central Italy) via gamma-ray spectrometry of soil samples: relationship with geological and pedological parameters. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 298, 317–323 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-012-2353-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-012-2353-2

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