Radiological mapping of the area around two research reactors in Islamabad

This study presents survey of gamma radiation exposure around Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology (PINSTECH). PINSTECH hosts two research reactors, two isotope production plants and several radiochemistry laboratories. Dose measurement was performed in thirty villages around PINSTECH. The average outdoor absorbed dose rate in air was 59 ± 16 nGy h −1 . The average annual outdoor dose rate due to terrestrial gamma-rays was 71.4 ± 20.0 μSv y −1 . The annual collective effective dose equivalent was 415 man-Sv and the estimated excess life-time cancer risk was 7.3 × 10 −4 . The study revealed that inhabitants living in the area surrounding PINSTECH were radiologically safe.