Natural radioactivity distribution and soil properties: a case study in southern Italy.

Mapping environmental radioactivity from field gamma-ray spectrometry is a valuable tool for understanding and interpreting pedological control of naturally occurring radioactivity. Soil properties and water content affect the behaviour of natural radioactivity. The main aim of the study were to explore and map the activity of three naturally occurring radionuclides (232Th, 238U, 40K) in an olive orchard and investigate the relationship between some soil properties and the activity of the three radionuclides.