Distribution of Gamma-Emitting Radionuclides in the Soils of the Neudamm Campus of the University of Namibia, Windhoek, Namibia

The concentrations of naturally occurring radionuclides 40 K, 232 Th and 238 U in soil samples taken from the Neudamm campus of the University of Namibia, Windhoek, Namibia have been determined and used to calculate a mean annual effective dose for the campus. The concentrations were measured using a sensitive gamma-ray spectroscopic system consisting of a high purity germanium detector and associated equipment. 40 K was found to have the highest specific concentration varying between 229.1 13.5 Bq kg 1 and 499.0 16.5 Bq kg 1 with a mean value of 364.5 79.3 Bq kg 1 while the concentration of 232 Th varies between 10.4 2.8 Bq kg 1 and 38.5 3.8 Bq kg 1 with a mean value of 28.0 9.2 Bq kg 1 and the concentration of 238 U varies between 11.7 1.3 Bq kg 1 and 24.7 2.1 Bq kg 1 with a mean value of 18.5 4.8 Bq kg 1 . The value of 0.05 0.01 mSv y 1 obtained for the mean annual effective dose is well below the limit of 1 mSv y 1 recommended for the public by the International Commission on