Assessment of soil radioactivity and associated health risks in the Haripur gas field, Bangladesh

Assessing soil radioactivity and associated risks in areas surrounding gas fields is essential due to potential natural radionuclide accumulation during extraction activities. This study investigates the radioactivity levels in surface soil from the Haripur gas field. 21 soil samples were analyzed using a high purity germanium (HPGe) detector. The activity concentrations of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K in the soil samples were found to range between 11-19, 20-38, and 280-500 Bq kg^-1, respectively. All ²²⁶Ra values and the majority of ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K values fell within the global average levels for soil, which are 35, 30, and 400 Bq kg^-1, respectively. Radiation hazard indices were found to be below the internationally accepted safety limits set by organizations such as the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) and the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), indicating that the soil poses no significant radiological risks for construction and agricultural applications. This research offers essential baseline data on soil radioactivity at the Haripur gas field, supporting public health, environmental protection, and regulatory compliance efforts.