ABSTRACT
The prolonged exposure from low level radioactivity may significantly affect our environment by altering the distribution of naturally occurring radionuclides through such processes as mining, water resources management or land reclamation. This chapter examines the natural radiation environment of the Hocking River Basin. The concentrations of 40K, U U, 232Th and their respective daughter products are determined for the major mineable coal seams, their associated roof shales and other miscellaneous lithologies located in the Hocking River Basin. The Hocking River Basin constitutes an ideal study location for several reasons. The Hocking River Basin is contaminated by the direct discharge of fission or fusion products released from atomic weaponry, nuclear reactors or nuclear waste disposal sites since these facilities are not located within the basin. The bulk of the radioactivity observed results from the decay of naturally occurring nuclides.
