Gamma Dose Rate Measurement in Turch District. Abbottabad, Pakistan

Everything in this universe is exposed to radiations, that may prove to be fatal for living organisms especially humans. Gamma radiations are electromagnetic radiations, most penetrating and thus are biologically most hazardous. In the current study, outdoor gamma activity is measured at Tarch, Dist. Abbottabad, to check the population exposure due to gamma radiations. Three very famous techniques are employed in the study; Ludlum-19 micro survey meter used for online monitoring, gamma spectroscopy using NaI (Tl) detector, Laser Induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). Outdoor gamma activity is measured using the Ludlum-19 micro survey meter. The area under study is divided into three regions, namely 'Region A', 'Region B' and 'Region C'. 'Region B is our focal region. Gamma activity shows an increasing trend with altitude, in the 'Region A'. 'Region B' is the 'hot spot' region where the activity increases abruptly with the altitude. Activity increases again in a usual trend in the'Region C. 'Rock samples collected from the focal region, are analysed quantitatively and qualitatively using gamma spectroscopy. Elemental analysis of rock samples is performed using LIBS.