Depth profile studies of natural radioactivity in soil from Bidar district, Karnataka, India

Natural radiation levels vary across different regions due to fluctuations in the concentration of radioactive materials. The primary objective of this study is to analyze the extent of radioactivity variation within depth profile samples using gamma-ray spectroscopy. A 4” ×4” NaI (Tl) scintillating detector was utilized as a key instrument in this investigation, shielded with 3” of lead to minimize interference from surrounding radiation. The gamma-ray spectrum was recorded using a 1K MCA (Scinti-SPEC) equipped with a built-in spectroscopy amplifier. This study aims to determine depth profile activity concentrations of 238 U, 232 Th, and 40 K while evaluating variations in radioactive concentration across a depth range of 20–200 feet. Additionally, the investigation extends to depth samples from other talukas within Bidar district for natural radioactivity.