Assessment of the Activity concentrations of the naturally occurring radionuclides from the samples collected from the different (CUFL & JFL) Urea Fertilizer Company Limited

Abstract

The activity concentrations of 238U, 232Th and 40K have been determined for product (urea) samples collected from the Chittagong Urea Fertilizer Limited (CUFL) and Jamuna Fertilizer Company Limited. The different kinds of sample were analyzed by using a calibrated high purity germanium (HPGe) detector of relative efficiency of 38%. For solid samples, the mean activity concentrations of 238U, 232Th and 40K have been found 78.67±2.87, 59.74±2.27 and 463.71±9.16 Bq/Kg, respectively. The mean activity concentrations of product samples for the corresponding radionuclide were 73.12±2.83, 74.59±2.32 and 391.58±9.38 Bq/Kg, respectively. The artificial radionuclide 137Cs has not been detected in any of the samples. The obtained results of this study show that for some samples the values are lower and for the remaining are higher than the World average values. The mean representative index value is less than unity which confirms that the area is safe for the factory workers and the public nearby.