A preliminary study of geological variation of in-situ gamma dose rate in the vicinity of coal-fired power plants

Abstract

Introduction: The utilization of fossil fuels in coal-fired power plants (CFPPs) for electricity generation could lead to the release of additional natural and artificial radioisotopes into the surrounding environment and consequently, increase the gamma dose rate at these areas.

Methods: In this study, the geological variation of gamma dose rate in the vicinity of Duyen Hai CFPP complex and Vinh tan CFPP complex were evaluated.

Results: The obtained gamma dose rates were in the range from 0.07 to 0.22 μSv h^-1 with the average value of 0.13 μSv h^-1 for Duyen Hai area and in the range from 0.14 to 0.34 μSv h^-1 with the average value of 0.21 μSv h^-1. The results indicated that the gamma dose rate in Vinh tan area is higher than the corresponding value of Duyen Hai area. Both natural aspects, such as the geological differences as well as geomorphology and weathering process, and anthropogenic aspects, such as the difference in operational scale, coal consumption and ash discharge between Duyen Hai and Vinh Tan CFPP complex, might significantly contribute to the variation of gamma dose rate in the investigated locations.

Conclusion: Overall, the calculated outdoor annual effective doses of two studied areas showed that the radiological impacts of both Duyen Hai and Vinh Tan CFPP complex to the environment and public health are negligible.