Re: Radioactivity in soil

[rkathren@tricity.wsu.edu (Ron L. Kathren)]

For soil concentrations of radionuclides, check the books on environmental
radioactivity by Merril Eisnebud and Ron Kathren.

>This does not answer your question, but it might be informative to note here
>that the national average (U.S.) of Ra226 in soil is just about 1 pCi/gm, at
>least that's my recollection of a paper of Fred Haywood's ca. 15-20 years
>ago. If the background were 1-2 pCi/gm, and Ra226 were the only radionuclide
>of concern, I'd think that 1pCi/gm above that would be detectable with, say,
>a 2x2"NaI probe. I hasten to CMA by stating that it's been many years since
>I've done environmental work, and my remembrance of likely countrates maybe
>off the mark.
>
>Chris Alston
>
>