Determinación de la radiación natural de la provincia de Tungurahua.

Abstract

The objective of the present investigation was to detect natural radiation from the Province of Tungurahua, it was determined; the exposure rate, the equivalent dose rate received per population and the existing correlation between the altitude and the estimated natural radiation. This investigation was carried out in the whole surface of the province of Tungurahua (3333 km2), it has altitudes that vary from 1200 m.a.s.l in valleys to 5400 m.a.s.l in mountains and snowy. To take measurements of natural radiation, stratified random sampling was used, taking into consideration height intervals of every 100 m, considering the minimum and maximum altitude. The measurements of natural radiation were made using a Geiger Müller portable detector model GCA-07W in 80 points and at each point 5 measurements were taken, obtaining a total of 400 data. A constant height of 1m was considered from the surface of the soil to the probe of the detector, with the help of a tripod, finally, the data were stored in leaves of personal field. The natural radiation average of the province of Tungurahua is 2,08 mSv / year, that is, 13,33% below the world average recommended by the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation. The correlation between altitude and natural radiation was obtained with a value of 0,91, demonstrating that there is a directly proportional relationship between these two parameters. It is recommended to continue with studies that estimate the natural radiation in the other provinces of Ecuador, because the contribution of natural radionuclides in the planet is not uniform since its creation.