THE DISTRIBUTION OF NATURAL RADIONUCLIDE CONCENTRATION IN SOIL IN TIRANA URBAN AREA

The data reported in this manuscript are the results of a systematic survey of natural radioactivity concentration in soils in Tirana urban area. The activity concentrations of natural radionuclides of 40K, 226Ra (238U) and 232Th, and artificial radionuclide of 137Cs in 71 soil samples were measured using a high-resolution gamma-ray spectrometry technique. The average activity concentrations of 40K, 226Ra and 232Th were found to be 382 ± 113, 32 ± 12 and 32 ± 12 Bq/kg respectively, while, the average activity concentration of 137Cs was found to be 5 ± 5 Bq/kg. These values were found to be comparable with similar studies reported in literature for different countries in the Balkans Region. Based on these data, the average annual effective dose rate was found to be 0.06 ± 0.02 mSv/y, which is comparable with the worldwide average values of 0.07 mSv/y. The results show that the radioactivity level in the soil of Tirana urban area does not pose any significant risk to population.