Spatial distribution and characteristic of radiological hazard of the paddy field around a decommissioned uranium mine in eastern China

In this study, the natural radioactivity in pit-water and paddy soil around a decommissioned uranium mine in eastern China was investigated. The gamma radiation absorbed dose rate, annual effective dose equivalent, radium equivalent activity, and radiation hazard index were calculated, and their spatial distribution was presented. The profile distribution of the activity concentrations of radionuclides was also investigated for the possible deposition effect. The radioactivity accumulation in the paddy-soil due to the irrigation was further discussed. It was shown that the accumulation of radioactivity in the paddy soil was limited from the irrigation.