Monitoring of terrestrial gamma dose rate from the Kumaun Himalayan region of the Bageshwar district in Uttarakhand, India

Abstract

Abstract The present study is carried out in 42 sampling sites for the measurement of background gamma dose rate in six tehsils of the Bageshwar district that comes under the Kumaun Himalaya, Uttarakhand. The annual effective dose in the pre-monsoon and post-monsoon seasons was estimated from the measured values of the Gamma dose rate. It is found that the minimum and maximum values ranged between 0.01–0.39 mSv per y (Arithmetic Mean = 0.19 mSv per y) in the pre-monsoon and 0.11–0.42 mSv per y (Arithmetic Mean = 0.20 mSv per y) in the post-monsoon season of the year. The finding of the present study shows that the annual effective dose equivalent is higher than the worldwide average value recommended by the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation.